One of the peer-led support programmes in prisons is the Insiders Scheme. Preliminary findings have shown that this has a positive impact on both prisoners and the Insiders. There is no detailed information on the ways in which the Insiders perceive their role. This may help to identify targets of training for Insiders. The present qualitative study aimed to describe the ways in which the Insiders perceived their role.

Two focus group meetings, using the interview guide method, were undertaken with all 3 Insiders in a male prison establishment in the UK. The anonymised transcripts of the focus group meetings were analysed inductively by following established conventions. To ensure the trustworthiness of the analysis, attention was given to coherence,’theoretical validity’ and’catalytic validity’.

The present study has provided a detailed systematic account of the ways in which the Insiders perceived their role. Insiders evaluated their role in terms of different aspects of their role, strategies that they used to help other prisoners, personal impact of their role, difficulties that they experienced during the course of their work, and ways of improving their role.

Some of the Insiders’ views were consistent with their role specification known or agreed by the professionals. Others differed from professionals’ views. The present findings contribute to an evidence-base for peer-derived training for the Insiders Scheme. Therefore, these findings highlight the value of undertaking qualitative research among Insiders to identify specific targets for their training.