peer support line
OPERATING POLICY – PEER SUPPORT LINE (PSL) 1.
PURPOSE 1.1
To provide peer-based emotional support through active listening, free of charge to the McMaster community.
1.2
To provide information and resources to the McMaster community about issues relevant to students, including but not limited to: 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.2.7 1.2.8 1.2.9 1.2.10 1.2.11 1.2.12
2.
Academics Addiction Bereavement and Grief General Campus Information Sexual Health Suicide and Self Harm Relationships Mental Health and Wellness Residence Life Physical Health and Wellness Sexuality and Gender Identity Harassment
OPERATING PARAMETERS 2.1
The Peer Support Line shall be a confidential, peer-run telephone service dedicated to providing emotional support to the McMaster community on issues relevant to students, as outlined in Section 1;
2.2
The telephone service offered by the Peer Support Line shall be non-profit and performed free from discrimination and shall be made available to the entire McMaster community;
2.3
The Peer Support Line shall create public awareness about the on-campus and off-campus resources available to the McMaster community;
2.4
The Peer Support Line shall provide Peer Support Listeners with the opportunity to further develop their active listening skills;
2.5
The Peer Support Line shall continually update the Resource Manual;
2.6
The Peer Support Line shall promote the use of the “88” extension or “Emergency” buttons on campus telephones as the primary means of requesting Emergency Response via McMaster Security Services;
Approved 12P Revised EB 16-20
PEER SUPPORT LINE (PSL) – PAGE 2
3.
2.7
The Peer Support Line shall promote the services provided by the Student Wellness Centre as the primary means of receiving professional care;
2.8
The Peer Support Line shall promote services McMaster Students Union clubs and services when appropriate;
2.9
The Peer Support Line shall maintain anonymous statistics on the usage of the telephone service.
PERSONNEL STRUCTURE 3.1
The Peer Support Line Coordinator, who shall: 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3
Be responsible for the management the Peer Support Line Perform duties outlined in the Peer Support Line Coordinator job description; Be hired by a hiring committee struck by the Executive Board that shall consist of: 3.1.3.1 3.1.3.2 3.1.3.3 3.1.3.4
3.2
The outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinator; The Vice-President (Administration); One (1) Executive Board Member; The Student Wellness Centre Manager, if available; or one (1) representative of the University or McMaster Security Services.
The Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator, who shall: 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4
Be a peer listener on the line; Be responsible for assisting the Peer Support Line Coordinator with all volunteer and management activities of the Peer Support Line; duties outlined in the Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator job description; Be hired by a hiring committee struck by the Executive Board that shall consist of: 3.2.4.1 The outgoing Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator; 3.2.4.1.1 If the outgoing Assistant Peer Support Line Coordinator is the incoming Peer Support Line Coordinator, substitute the outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinator in their place; 3.2.4.2 The incoming Peer Support Line Coordinator 3.2.4.3 The Vice-President (Administration); 3.2.4.4 One (1) Executive Board Member;
3.3
The Promotions Coordinator, who shall: 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4
Not be a listener; Be responsible for assisting the Peer Support Line Coordinator with all promotional activities of the Peer Support Line; Perform duties outlined in the Promotions Coordinator job description; Be hired by the incoming and outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinators through an application and interview process.
PEER SUPPORT LINE (PSL) – PAGE 3
3.4
Peer Support Listeners, who shall: 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3
Provide confidential peer support to the students of the McMaster community; Perform duties outlined in the Peer Support Listeners job description; Be selected by a Selection committee using criteria set by the Peer Support Line Executive and approved by the Executive Board.
PURPOSE 1.1
To provide peer-based emotional support through active listening, free of charge to the McMaster community.
1.2
To provide information and resources to the McMaster community about issues relevant to students, including but not limited to: 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.2.7 1.2.8 1.2.9 1.2.10 1.2.11 1.2.12
2.
Academics Addiction Bereavement and Grief General Campus Information Sexual Health Suicide and Self Harm Relationships Mental Health and Wellness Residence Life Physical Health and Wellness Sexuality and Gender Identity Harassment
OPERATING PARAMETERS 2.1
The Peer Support Line shall be a confidential, peer-run telephone service dedicated to providing emotional support to the McMaster community on issues relevant to students, as outlined in Section 1;
2.2
The telephone service offered by the Peer Support Line shall be non-profit and performed free from discrimination and shall be made available to the entire McMaster community;
2.3
The Peer Support Line shall create public awareness about the on-campus and off-campus resources available to the McMaster community;
2.4
The Peer Support Line shall provide Peer Support Listeners with the opportunity to further develop their active listening skills;
2.5
The Peer Support Line shall continually update the Resource Manual;
2.6
The Peer Support Line shall promote the use of the “88” extension or “Emergency” buttons on campus telephones as the primary means of requesting Emergency Response via McMaster Security Services;
Approved 12P Revised EB 16-20
PEER SUPPORT LINE (PSL) – PAGE 2
3.
2.7
The Peer Support Line shall promote the services provided by the Student Wellness Centre as the primary means of receiving professional care;
2.8
The Peer Support Line shall promote services McMaster Students Union clubs and services when appropriate;
2.9
The Peer Support Line shall maintain anonymous statistics on the usage of the telephone service.
PERSONNEL STRUCTURE 3.1
The Peer Support Line Coordinator, who shall: 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3
Be responsible for the management the Peer Support Line Perform duties outlined in the Peer Support Line Coordinator job description; Be hired by a hiring committee struck by the Executive Board that shall consist of: 3.1.3.1 3.1.3.2 3.1.3.3 3.1.3.4
3.2
The outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinator; The Vice-President (Administration); One (1) Executive Board Member; The Student Wellness Centre Manager, if available; or one (1) representative of the University or McMaster Security Services.
The Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator, who shall: 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4
Be a peer listener on the line; Be responsible for assisting the Peer Support Line Coordinator with all volunteer and management activities of the Peer Support Line; duties outlined in the Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator job description; Be hired by a hiring committee struck by the Executive Board that shall consist of: 3.2.4.1 The outgoing Peer Support Line Assistant Coordinator; 3.2.4.1.1 If the outgoing Assistant Peer Support Line Coordinator is the incoming Peer Support Line Coordinator, substitute the outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinator in their place; 3.2.4.2 The incoming Peer Support Line Coordinator 3.2.4.3 The Vice-President (Administration); 3.2.4.4 One (1) Executive Board Member;
3.3
The Promotions Coordinator, who shall: 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4
Not be a listener; Be responsible for assisting the Peer Support Line Coordinator with all promotional activities of the Peer Support Line; Perform duties outlined in the Promotions Coordinator job description; Be hired by the incoming and outgoing Peer Support Line Coordinators through an application and interview process.
PEER SUPPORT LINE (PSL) – PAGE 3
3.4
Peer Support Listeners, who shall: 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3
Provide confidential peer support to the students of the McMaster community; Perform duties outlined in the Peer Support Listeners job description; Be selected by a Selection committee using criteria set by the Peer Support Line Executive and approved by the Executive Board.
