Peer Support Supervision Competencies: Results of Participatory Action Research

Peer Support Specialists (PSS) are a rapidly expanding workforce in behavioral healthcare, with over 100,000 practitioners currently active in the U.S. Despite the evidence-base for peer services, supervision remains a significant challenge, often leading to role confusion when managed by non-peer supervisors. This study sought to identify specific supervision competencies that account for unique considerations of PSS. This study utilized a multi-phase Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, employing online Delphi focus groups and a nationwide pilot survey to identify and validate specific competencies for PSS supervision. Assessing the importance, criticality, and frequency of 71 supervisory tasks across five functions of supervision (Administrate, Support, Educate, Advocate, and Evaluate), identified by 100 PSS and supervisors, yielded the 25 supervisory competencies rated highest and lowest, aligned with the Five Critical Functions of Supervision model. Survey results revealed a high prioritization for tasks that support role clarity, active listening, and leading through empathy. These findings provide an empirical schema for developing standardized training curricula and practice guidelines for ensuring effective and efficient PSS supervision. Results suggest that further research on the competencies of the Five Critical Functions of Supervision model is warranted.