Professionality: A Concept Analysis Supporting Peer Support Workers (and Interprofessional Learning) in Mental Health Care

Peer support workers (PSWs), who through their experience-based expertise support the recovery of people using mental health services, have been shown to facilitate interprofessional learning. However, due to hierarchical teams, this learning has been challenged. To facilitate interprofessional learning, mental health professions need to understand the nature of the professionality of PSWs. This study aims to explore the concept of 'professionality' through conceptual analysis, applying Walker and Avant's stepwise approach. The findings show that the key attribute of PSWs' professionality is equality. By being characterized by equality, presupposes that PSWs may need to cross boundaries. This boundary crossing needs to be considered to be able to use the PSWs' expertise and facilitate interprofessional learning in teamwork. The conclusion is that by acknowledging this professionality, which means that the transgression of professional boundaries can be justified, hierarchy can be counteracted. This is important to stimulate interprofessional learning and increase the quality of services.