Training and employment of consumer provider employees in Dutch mental health care.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the results of a qualitative study on the training and employment of consumer provider employees in Dutch mental health care.


METHODS
The authors used semi-structured interviews with students, graduates/employees, teachers, team managers, colleagues and clients to assess their experiences with the college program.


RESULTS
The college program succeeds in preparing the consumer students for their role as consumer provider employees in mental health teams. In the peer support and recovery program and supervision, students learn to develop their recovery story, to apply their experiences in practice, and to deal with challenges.


CONCLUSIONS
Coaching and supervision are essential to help consumer providers in their specific role, to deal with dilemmas and to facilitate open dialogue. Teams need to be adequately prepared by informing them on the requirements of the college program and the role of consumer providers.
van Erp
Nicole H J
NH
Trimbos Institute, Research Unit of Reintegration, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Hendriksen-Favier
Annemieke I
AI
Boer
Marjo
M
D003256:Community Participation; D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009426:Netherlands; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010379:Peer Group; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014829:Vocational Education / Q000379:methods*