Organisational Peer Support Programmes – Regulatory Requirements and Awareness
Elevate wellbeing leadership
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1 day course
£400 GBP excl. VAT
Online
Online only
09:00-17:00 UK time
Course Overview
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aviation safety regulation, (in line with the European Aviation Safety Agency), has mandated all Commercial Air Transport (CAT) operators to implement a Support Programme (SP) for flight crew designed to inform and educate pilots, flight crew and other aviation safety sensitive personnel on their wellbeing and health and to be fit to operate. The role of Peer Support is central to the Support Programme.
This course provides delegates with an understanding of the organisational, management and senior leadership responsibilities needed to meet the requirements of regulation to develop a Support Programme and implement a Peer Assistance programme for employees and colleagues. This course includes an overview of mental health awareness for all aviation safety sensitive personnel.
The Support Programme and Peer Assistance promotes and supports the whole health and wellbeing required to be fit to operate in the aviation environment, providing confidential and independent peer-based support and assistance when individuals require help, advice or assistance with a developing social, personal or health related issue.
Trained peer volunteers, working with the oversight of qualified health professionals enhance the wellbeing of pilots, flight crew and other safety sensitive industry personnel, preserving careers and enhancing aviation safety.
- Understand the regulatory requirements to develop a Support Programme and implement a Peer Assistance programme
- Examine the associated CAA medical regulatory considerations in aviation medicine
- Explore the mitigations of safety risk of individual personal impairment and being fit to operate
Choose Your Course Date
| Start Date | End Date | Venue | Price (Excl. VAT) | Availability | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/09/2025 | 04/09/2025 | Online | £400.00 | More than 5 places | Book |
What is a Peer Support Programme?
A peer support programme in aviation is a system where pilots or aviation professionals provide emotional and psychological support to their peers. The programme aims to promote mental health awareness and well-being among aviation professionals, as well as provide a confidential space for individuals to discuss any personal or professional challenges they may be facing. Peer support programmes often include training and education on mental health issues, as well as resources for seeking professional help if needed. These programmes can play a crucial role in reducing stigma and promoting a healthy work environment within the aviation industry.
This course is suitable for Senior Managers and Leaders from CAT operators who have oversight of support programmes and National Aviation Authorities (NAA’s) and Regulatory Bodies SMEs on SPs or Peer Support.
This training course will include the following topics:
- An appropriate and agreed code of practice and ethics and the importance of confidentiality
- Awareness of associated CAA medical regulatory considerations in aviation medicine
- Awareness for managers of mental health first aid principles and intervention techniques
- Governance and organisational support arrangements
By the end of this course delegates will demonstrate an understanding of the following through presentation and interactive discussion:
- The new regulatory requirements for Support Programmes under UK aviation law
- The role of management and leadership in implementing and promoting a Support Programme
- The function and role of a Peer and the Peer Assistance model
- Awareness of the skills, knowledge and behaviours to act as a Peer
- Awareness of the mental health and wellbeing of pilots, flight crew and other safety sensitive personnel in the aviation workplace
- The mitigation of safety risk of individual personal impairment and being fit to operate
No pre-requisites for this course. In the context of a support programme, a ‘peer’ is a trained person who shares common professional qualifications and experience, and has encountered similar situations, problems or conditions with the person seeking assistance from a support programme. This may or may not be a person working in the same organisation as the person seeking assistance from the support programme.
A peer’s involvement in a support programme can be beneficial due to similar professional backgrounds between the peer and the person seeking support. However, a mental health professional should support the peer when required, e.g. in cases where intervention is required to prevent endangering safety.
Meet your Instructors
Nick Goodwyn MA Dip Psych cfs RAF (Ret)
Pilot Peer Training
Nick Goodwyn, on behalf of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), leads the strategic overview of Pilot and Human Performance and the implementation of Pilot Peer Assistance in developing a national programme for the benefit of all UK commercial pilots in promoting and supporting their whole health and wellbeing.
Nick has a 36 year career as a military and civilian Fast Jet Pilot, Instructor and Examiner. Focused on Flight Operations as well as learning and development, Nick is a qualified Aircrew, Executive and Business Coach specialising in flight crew welfare and personal growth. Additionally, Nick's expertise extend to Human Factors, Performance and Crew Resource Management.
As a front line fast jet military pilot, on operations and having flown over 4500 hours (including multi-engine and rotary experience), Nick was latterly responsible for the delivery of Ab-Initio Human factors training to all Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Pilots. Nick was also responsible for the cognitive development and performance of pilots and instructors through a unique Performance Coaching Programme and Human Performance for Instructors Course as well as a military and civilian Airmanship model. Additionally, he undertook bespoke flying training projects as an independent service consultant for defence senior officers. In January 2015, he was seconded to work with the UK CAA and left the RAF in September 2016 to become Director of Elite Performance Training Ltd (Aviation Services), working in the commercial air transport sector, re-joining the CAA in October 2018 to undertake the Pilot Peer Assistance project lead role.
Nick has a Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching Psychology and was awarded a Masters Degree in Executive and Business Coaching focusing on Pilot Peer Assistance and mental wellbeing.
Additional Information
Course delivery methods
This course can only be attended virtually online. At present, this course is not delivered in-person at one of our training venues.
- Instructor-Led Virtual Course: Enjoy the flexibility of attending this training remotely from your home or office with our live virtual course. Engage in interactive learning from anywhere in the world. We deliver our virtual courses via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex. Once your booking is confirmed, we will notify you of the platform on which your selected course will be hosted.
If you can’t see an upcoming course date, we likely haven’t released the next set of dates. Please get in touch to find out when we’ll announce the new dates, and we’ll be sure to keep you informed once they are available or even add you to our waiting list.
Photo Gallery
Course photos coming soon.
Further reading
There is no formal preparation for this course; however, we would encourage further reading of the associated regulatory AMC and GM to CAT.GEN.MPA 215 and the European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI) Manual of Peer Support documents available through the CAA website.
In-company delivery
We can also tailor this training course to suit your organisation’s training requirements. These bespoke training packages can be delivered at your organisation’s location – almost anywhere, worldwide. Please Contact us for more information and to discuss your requirements.
VAT information
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FAQs
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