Interview with Brandon Tankersley, Director of Peer Services, Monarch

I had a chance to catch up with Brandon Tankersley , BSBA, MEd, CPSS (at the First Mental Health Reccovery Conference in Greensboro) who is the Director of Peer Services for Monarch in North Carolina. He believes that hiring individuals with life experiences is beneficial because these people possess knowledge that will allow them to view situations from a different perspective which can only help to broaden and strengthen a recovery.

(The link to his remarkable recovery story at SAMSHA is here.)

Brandon Tankersley

What does a typical week look like for you?

I travel state-wide to speak regarding Peer Service, and to make myself available to staff and meet with other Directors to discuss missions and ideas to allow people in my same circumstance to succeed. I coordinate Action Plans and Training efforts. I spend time documenting ideas and how those new ideas that have already been put in to an Action Plan are working or not working. I write documentation and policies for new recruits. I address financial issues to remain in a pre-established budget for Peer Service. I interview potential new CPSS recruits around the state. I attend many conferences, summits, and seminars to further enlighten me as to how I can help other people with MH-IDD-SA challenges.

Advice you would give new recruits?

Learn to overcome stigma. Be prepared to understand that there may be negative stigma related to you as a new recruit. Understand that you should not to take things like this personal. We should do our job to the best of our ability, and everything should eventually work itself out.
Be organized. Remain organized and keep GOOD documentation.
Keep your promises. Don't ever be late and stick to your word.
Show your credentials. Carry with you, in a folder your Certification being Peer Support Specialist in your state.
Be smart. There is no need to be over-cautious, but be "smart" when entering a person you serve home, and if you feel uncomfortable do not be afraid to leave or request meeting in a neutral location until you feel otherwise.
Do your homework. Do research AHEAD OF TIME about ways to address potential problems people we serve may have (i.e. have a pre-established list of different kinds of support groups that meet in your county, go online and Google smart ways to handle potential problems - and WRITE DOWN what you discover and keep record etc...).
Initiate meaningful discussion.-Come up with a list of questions you can ask people we serve to promote discussion related towards recovery (i.e. What's on your mind? Are you happy? How can I help you fix a problem? Are you taking your medication regularly? Are you attending any groups? Are you using? Do you have a WRAP? etc...)

The greatest challenges in peer supervision?

Learn to deal with difficult questions.-Learning to deal with the questions like - "should people with life experience, that have received recovery service from an organization be permitted to work with that same organization?", "What policies do you make to handle confidentiality?"
Encourage self-management.-There is a need to come up with a guide that is used with every person we serve that provides learning skills to enhance self-management My team uses WHAM (Whole Health Action Management).
Again, be organized.-Be organized and keep good documentation.
Be friendly without friendships.-We want to be friendly, but we also want to avoid becoming "friends" with people that you supervise. You are their Supervisor, not their friend.

What do you see as the greatest needs for the peer workforce?

Daily, being prepared.-Be prepared with and understand the role of a good, personal recovery story.
Committed to our own wellness. Understand WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) and other wellness tools
Being supportive. Refrain from giving too much advice, remember we are not a doctor or a psychologist. Our job is to help the people you serve learn ways to go about obtaining good advice.