Historically and currently, people working in peer and lived experience roles have faced significant challenges in finding pathways to job progression in comparison to colleagues working in more established and clinical roles, especially within the NHS. This webinar will introduce the Imroc ‘Next Steps’ in peer support course, a new course aimed at recognising these challenges and providing training that might help prepare people for job progression.
To book a place please email events@imroc.org with “Introduction to Next Steps” in the subject line.
What to Expect:
The webinar will cover:
Introduction to the challenges and rationale for creating a ‘Next Steps’ course by trainers Josephine and Ben.
A brief outline of the course structure and content, and the process of co-producing the course in line with peer values.
A chance to preview some of the course materials as a taster of what you might expect in terms of conversations and activities if you sign up.
A space to reflect on what interests you about the ideas shared in the webinar, and to highlight areas you think are most important for development into senior peer and leadership roles.
Speakers & Guests
Josephine Chick
Josephine Chick is a Mental Health consultant and advocate with special interests in peer support and its application to meaningful, equitable and sustainable organisational & culture change.
After studying in literature, dissident sexualities and identities, Josephine established a career in hospitality management. Despite gaining skills in managing & developing people and systems, they moved to the Mental Health sector in 2020 to pursue environments that prioritise people and relationships, not products. They have held peer leadership positions in Recovery College settings, bolstered by 4 years’ experience working in NHS peer support roles across forensic, acute inpatient and community settings with adults and young people.
At Imroc, Josephine is an established trainer, delivering and reviewing a range of Imroc’s Mental Health training offerings – from the Level 3 Certificate Peer Support Theory & Principles and CPD accredited Peer-Informed Supervision to the Next Steps course in Peer Leadership. They are the Onboarding and Experience Lead of the Neurodiversity Training Programme and, for the past 18 months, have formed part of the core team of specialist consultants co-designing and working on the NHS England-commissioned Culture of Care programme, along with external partners at The PSC and VMI.
They continue former interests in publishing, working as a sensitivity consultant for authors and are undertaking further training in humanistic psychotherapy to broaden their perspectives on communication, connection and person-led growth. To stay connected to the learning offered through physical experience, Josephine swears by team sports, runs marathons & ultramarathons and will be attempting a week’s exploration of the SWCP in 2026.
Danny Bowyer - Chair
Danny Bowyer is a dedicated mental health advocate specialising in peer support and recovery-oriented practices. As the Peer Support (Mental Health) Programme Lead at Imroc, he has been instrumental in advancing peer support initiatives across health and social care systems.
With over a decade of experience in the mental health sector, Danny has held various roles, emphasising the value of lived experience in supporting others. His journey into peer support began over 12 years ago when he was first supported by a peer support worker, an experience that profoundly influenced his career path. Approximately 10 years ago, Danny trained as a peer support worker himself, working in a recovery college and building significant experience in training peer support workers alongside these roles.
At Imroc, Danny leads the Peer Support (Mental Health) Programme, designing and delivering comprehensive training programs that equip individuals with the skills necessary to provide effective peer support. His work emphasises the importance of social and systemic factors in the experience, identity and treatment of individuals experiencing emotional distress.
Danny has also contributed to developing supervision and community of practice models tailored for peer workers, recognising their unique challenges within clinical cultures. His insights have been integral to creating supportive environments that promote peer support workers' well-being and professional growth.
In addition to his work at Imroc, Danny has presented at various conferences, sharing his expertise on the experience of peer support workers within mental health services. His presentations often focus on the transformative potential of peer support and the importance of embedding recovery principles into organisational practices.
Danny resides in Peterborough, where he continues to advocate for expanding peer support roles and implementing recovery-focused approaches within mental health care systems.