39 PEERS – Post Event Evaluation Reflection and Support. (30th November 2020) - Stylianou, Mike
Abstract : The NHS is the largest employer in the United Kingdom, the largest employer in Europe and the fifth largest employer in the World employing over 1.7 million people. Great Ormond Street Hospital employs over 4200 of these individuals. Many teams and Industries support their teams by debriefing following significant negative events and indeed some teams debrief all events. Healthcare teams are unique when compared to teams in other industries. Health Care teams differ in Gender, age, culture, ethnicity, cognitive ability, experience and training and specialty. The spectrum of a healthcare team may range from student nurse to professor all working with a common same focus –'the Patient'. Health care teams are Heterogeneous unlike the Homogenous nature of teams such as the Military or Aerospace which are for example, predominantly male, similar backgrounds and similar ages. PEERS recognises and responds to needs diverse of individuals and teams that make up our healthcare system. The aim of PEERS meetings is to provide support for colleagues, assisting them to explore and make sense of and process common reactions to potentially stressful events. The PEERS approach seeks, nurture resilience, vulnerability and wellbeing through supported reflection by creating a safe space where individuals can speak openly and honestly, and be heard without bias, judgment or threat. The fundamental objective is to foster, support and encourage, personal growth, wellbeing and to encourage 'help-seeking' behaviour, if needed. PEERS Participants should feel safe enough to share their experiences, actions and reactions in open forum, their attendance and participation is never mandated, Participants are never compelled or required to share before they are ready.