Student Peer Supporters are available at participating colleges and departments to talk with you informally about anything that is concerning you. All Peer Supporters have been carefully selected and trained to take up this role, and receive ongoing support and supervision through the University Counselling Service.
Who are the Peer supporters?
Peer Supporters are undergraduate and graduate students of the University. They have formally applied for this role and have been selected by the Peer Support Panel in their college or department in consultation with a professional Peer Support trainer and the college’s Senior Common Room (SCR). They have received training to enable them to listen effectively, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality, respect boundaries and recognise when and how to encourage referral to professional support services.
Peer Supporters attend ongoing fortnightly supervision through the University Counselling Service to consolidate their training, develop skills and ensure that they are not over-committed. All Peer Supporters abide by a Code of Practice.
The Jesus JCR Peer Support Team |
|
How Peer support can help
Peer Support offers an easily accessible and relatively informal opportunity to talk through issues which may be concerning you. Often it can help simply to get things off your chest or to know that someone is genuinely willing to listen and take time to understand what’s on your mind. Sometimes just talking things through is enough; sometimes it may lead you to seek more professional help.
Peer Supporters are not counsellors and, where appropriate, they may encourage you to seek more formal support through college welfare, your GP or the University Counselling Service.
It is important to note that peer supporters are offering an unpaid, informal supporting role on a voluntary basis. They are not trained professionals and do not offer the sort of support that you might obtain from a doctor, lawyer, Independent Financial adviser or other professional. You should consider whether you do need that sort of professional advice and if so seek it yourself. None of the Peer Supporters, Oxford University, any college or the University Counselling Service accept any legal liability for any errors or omissions in providing the peer support service. The right is reserved to refuse to provide support to any individual student or to withdraw or suspend the service at any time without notice.







