Recovery-Oriented Practice in Public Mental Health Services: Peer Worker and Clinicians' Views on Implementation

Recovery-oriented practice (ROP) is a widely used mental health approach. It takes into consideration the consumers' choices and future-focus. Results revealed lived experience peer workers viewed their roles as bridging the barrier between service users and clinicians, perceived themselves as representing consumers and supporting their journeys through the service and educating clinicians. Clinicians understood ROP but believed it would be difficult to implement and believed peer workers are beneficial but did not want them in the clinical space. Co-design and coproduction is the most authentic form of conducting ROP research and both perspectives should be considered throughout practice change initiatives.