RESCUE Certification Standards for Peer Supporter training (RESCUE-Training)

Scope. RESCUE-Training encompasses the design, structure, orientation, methodologies, training, evaluation, and continuous improvement of training programs for Peer Supporters involved in Second Victim Support Interventions. This certification provides institutions with a structured framework to ensure the quality of their Second Victim Support Interventions through well-trained personnel and robust organizational practices. RESCUE-Training is aligned with ERNST's definition of second victims1. This certification adopts the ERNST Five-Level Framework for Second Victim Support , and aligns with the principles and foundational statements declared by ERNST to effectively address the Second Victim Phenomenon .

Mira J, Carillo I, Tella S, Vanhaecht K, Panella M, Seys D, Ungureanu MI, Sousa P, Buttigieg SC, Vella-Bonanno P, Popovici G, Srulovici E, Guerra-Paiva S, Knezevic B, Lorenzo S, Lachman P, Ushiro S, Scott SD, Wu A, Strametz R. The European Researchers' Network Working on Second Victim (ERNST) Policy Statement on the Second Victim Phenomenon for Increasing Patient Safety. Public Health Rev. 2024 Sep 18;45:1607175. doi: 10.3389/phrs.2024.1607175.

Seys D, Panella M, Russotto S, Strametz R, Joaquín Mira J, Van Wilder A, Godderis L, Vanhaecht K. In search of an international multidimensional action plan for second victim support: a narrative review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23(1):816.

This certification is designed for institutions that implement Second Victim Support Interventions based on trained Peer Support, an approach that has proven to be acceptable to professionals and effective in reducing recovery time for Second Victims while enhancing resilience in managing stressful situations inherent to health and care practice. It is also intended for other institutions that provide training programs for individuals who assume the role of peer supporters, working in collaboration with health and care organizations, professional associations, or other entities to ensure an appropriate and proportional response to the needs of Second Victims.

By setting clear criteria, this certification enables institutions to ensure that Peer Supporters are thoroughly prepared to deliver effective, ethical, and high-quality assistance to Second Victims. This framework fosters recovery and resilience while promoting safer and more supportive environments for patient care professionals. It applies to various settings, including hospitals, primary care facilities, and long-term care settings, including nursing homes and social-healthcare centers.

These standards result from a collaborative effort by an international team that is part of the Innovative Grant IG19113 funded by COST. They are designed to align with the principles on the Second Victim Phenomenon established by ERNST .

The validity of this certification is three years. Before this period expires, institutions wishing to maintain RESCUE certification must apply for renewal.

Procedure

The candidate designates a contact person responsible for submitting the application on behalf of the institution. This individual conducts a self-assessment to determine the institution´s positioning within the certification system. Once the institution is deemed ready to apply for certification at either level, the application is submitted. To complete the application, the candidate must upload the self-assessment results and supporting evidence demonstrating compliance with each standard on the platform.

The auditor reviews the institution´s self-assessment results, verifies the supporting documentation, and proceeds with the evaluation. The entire process is conducted on the RESCUE platform. The self-assessment and audit cover actions that were designed or implemented within the past three years.

The auditor will use the following scale to determine the degree of compliance with the standard in both cases.

Full Compliance (FC). The standard is fully met.
- Example: All peer supporters have completed the required training. The institution has maintained detailed records for each peer supporter on the panel, updated as of February 1, 2025.
Partial Compliance (PC). The standard is partially met, but some elements are incomplete or missing.
This does not apply to CORE standards, which only allow for FC.
Partial compliance refers to cases where the unmet or incomplete elements are minor and do not compromise the overall purpose or objectives of the standard. The total incomplete components must not exceed 25% of the required elements. Furthermore, these elements must not prevent full compliance from being achieved within six months.
The support application's algorithm facilitates the correct implementation of this instruction.
- Example: The institution has offered the required training, but only 70% of peer supporters have completed it, or there is no record confirming they finished all training modules.
Non-Compliance (NC). The standard is not met.
- Example: Training sessions were conducted, but there are no assessments of these activities, and no up-to-date records of which peer supporters were actually trained.

Certification is granted if all CORE standards are met and at least 8 out of 10 non-CORE standards are full compliance. Failure to comply with a CORE standard means that the Peer Supporters Training Program cannot be certified at this time.