• Peer volunteers
• Crew members
• Senior Managers from CAT operators who have oversight of support programmes
• National Aviation Authorities (NAA’s) and Regulatory Bodies SMEs on SPs or Peer Support

• Regulatory requirements for Support programmes and the use of trained peers
• Role of a Peer, their function, responsibilities, competencies and associated safety risk factors in aviation
• An appropriate and agreed code of practice and ethics and importance of confidentiality
• Knowledge of CAA medical regulatory considerations in aviation medicine
• Human Factors, Basics of psychology and the understanding of how the human mind and body respond to stressors and the manner by which health and wellbeing issues develop
• Mental health first aid principles and intervention techniques
• How Peer Assistance works – Peer Assistance model
• The skills required for initiating and directing a peer assistance call
• Empathic and active listening skills and unconditional positive regard
• Helpful conversations in peer assistance calls; preferred future state, solution-focused conversations, shared understandings
• How to handle concerns raised by others including how to verify the veracity of a report (to limit potential misuse of the system)
• Mutual support Peers and for ‘difficult’ cases, how to look after themselves including access qualified assistance themselves, if needed
• Governance and organisational support arrangement

By the end of this course delegates will demonstrate an understanding of the following through presentation and interactive discussion:

• The function and role of a Peer and Pilot Peer Assistance
• The skills, knowledge and behaviours to act as a Peer
• The mental health and wellbeing of pilots in the aviation workplace
• The ability to have peer to peer conversations
• The mitigation of risk of pilot impairment and risk resulting from the fear of loss of licence

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.

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.

This course can be delivered face-to-face in classroom at our London Gatwick training centre.

Browse the table below to select your preferred date.

Course type:

• Class = A face-to-face classroom course delivered in the location listed in the “venue” column. In light of COVID-19, please check your eligibility and our COVID-19 measures.