WINST

The WINST project (Working in the Network and Support System of people with a severe mental disability) is a study, that started at the end of December 2020, in cooperation with two mental health care organizations: Lentis and GGz Friesland. In this study we want to look at how we can strengthen the collaboration between family and relatives, clients and mental health professionals. We focus on clients with severe psychiatric problems who have been staying in a mental health institution or sheltered housing for a long time and their relatives.

We investigate how a family peer support workers can contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the client, relatives and mental health professionals. A family peer support worker is someone who has (had) experience with a relative struggling with a mental illness, and who uses this experience to support clients and their relatives. Through action research we will identify what family peer support workers need (e.g. knowledge, time, resources) and from whom (organization, colleagues, supervisors, etc.) in order to contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the client, relatives and mental health professionals. Action research means that we learn from each other and collect knowledge while working in practice. We do this by using a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA) twice. In addition, we will investigate whether the deployment of a family peer support worker (who uses the new method) improves the perceived quality of care and well-being. With this knowledge we will develop a new working method, including an implementation manual. After the project has ended, we will disseminate the results of the project, namely the method developed, the implementation manual and the experiences with this, via various regional and national platforms.

This research is made possible by a grant from ZonMw

Project Partners:

  • Lentis
  • GGZ Friesland
  • Hanzehogeschool Groningen
  • Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
  • Hogeschool Windesheim
  • Werkplaats Sociaal Domein Noord
  • Ypsilon
  • RGOc

Involved GRIP Researchers:

Others involved:

  • Dr. L. Polstra (Hanzehogeschool Groningen 
  • Mr. Petra Smeets (Hanzehogeschool) 
  • B. Stavenuiter (Yspilon) 
  • Marjon Huiting, Lentis (BEL & ART Zuidlaren) 
  • K.N. Lap (GGZ Friesland) 
  • M. Menger (GGZ Friesland) 
  • Willeke van der Plas (GGZ Friesland)
  • Dr. A. Weerman (Hogeschool Windesheim)