Peer Inspection by Healthy Minds, Lambeth
Healthy Minds helps the implement Peer Mediation Services in Primary Schools in Lambeth. Healthy Minds generated a Peer Inspection model and piloted it at three schools to review their Peer Mediation Service. The model was developed through consultation and the involvement of a group of young people. Healthy Minds found that the Peer Inspection process offered fresh objective perspective of services and a very useful leverage tool.
Healthy Minds developed a Job Specification for Peer Inspectors and Peer Mediators were invited to apply for the job. The inspection questions and review was compiled to utilise a range of investigative skills and draw in a broad range of information. Knowing what the young people wanted to see in their own service helped develop the questions. One section of the questionnaire required observation skills and Inspectors were asked to reflect on publicity and notice boards, location of Peer Mediation Service, atmosphere and access. Another section was a range of questions for the Mediators about the service its efficiency and effectiveness. A third section was a selection of questions aimed at young people in the playground, to gain understanding of the perception of its users.
The Peer Inspectors visit schools at lunchtimes where they meet and have lunch with the Peer Mediators in the school. The Inspectors would then walk around the school with the Peer Mediators asking them questions and observing the service. The young people would use a dicta-phone to collect answers and those very useful quotes. Then there would be an interview with the Co-ordinators and sometimes the Head Teacher.
When reviewing the data the collected, the Peer Inspectors would utilise comments made by other young people to compile recommendations. The Peer Inspectors could also add alternative practical recommendations where possible. The recommendations helped the Inspectors create an action plan of what needed improving, how, by whom and when. These were then formulated into a report and after being reviewed by the service co-ordinator, presented to the inspected school's senior management team or the Head Teacher.
An example of the kind of improvements are the use of 'fetchers' who patrol the play ground and staff will send disputing young people with fetchers to use the mediation service. Other developments have been forums for the co-ordinators and forums for Peer Mediators and Inspectors.
What's in it for the Peer Mediators?
Peer Mediators suggest that the option to be a Peer Inspector along with the treats, activities and opportunities to get involved in other activities help a lot to keep Peer Mediators motivated. It is not uncommon for the novelty of Mediation to wear off particularly when other young people stop using the service or there are fewer disputes.
"When I did my first inspection I was really worried that something might go wrong. I was worked with another Peer Inspector who had more experience and he helped me feel better. It was good fun to inspect other services, meet other Peer Mediators and help to make the services better."
The Inspection process has improved Peer Mediators self-confidence, their personal development, sensitivity, empathy and team working skills. It is notable that many Peer Mediators and Peer Inspectors join the school or youth council and inspectors have been asked to review other youth projects. This demonstrates that the skills learnt in Peer Mediation training are invaluable to the Peer Inspector and there is 'career' or at least a development path available to these young people.