The Triangle of Care – Carers Included

The launch of the guide, "The Triangle of Care, Carers Included: A Guide to Best Practice in Mental Health Care", in July 2010 was the culmination of a number of years of research into the information and support that mental health carers need from service providers.

The guide is a valuable tool for:

Already well received, the guide had further validation when it was included in the Government’s strategies for mental health and carer service provision and social inclusion – The Carers Strategy refresh in November 2010 and No Health without Mental Health in February 2011.

What does The Triangle of Care mean for carers?

The Triangle of Care brings together many years of research with carers into what they feel will benefit them when involved with mental health services. It is based on six principles that mental health trusts can use to include and support carers. It explores what each principle means in practice and provides good practice examples. Although the examples are from England the principles apply to any mental health service provision.

The six key principles:

  1. Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter.
  2. Staff are carer aware and trained in carer engagement strategies.
  3. Policy and practice protocols re confidentiality and sharing information are in place.
  4. Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place.
  5. A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the acute care pathway.
  6. A range of carer support services is available along with a self-assessment tool.

Carers are often the only constant in the service user’s mental health care journey.

They are there when crisis occurs, when the person is well and when that person needs support with day-to-day activities. They often understand the service user’s needs and condition extremely well and as such are a vital partner in care.

If professionals can recognise the support that carers give service users and acknowledge them as a key partner in care then service users will receive better care and support on their journey to recovery. Significantly, if carers are acknowledged and supported then they too are more likely to maintain or improve their own wellbeing.

Project Development and Good Practice Sharing

The project has now developed to include regional groups which bring together mental health providers, third sector organisations and carers to share good practice and work to achieve the principles of the Triangle of Care in their organisations. The Virtual Ward has provided a repository for examples of good practice which organisations are happy to share to ensure to achieve a national standard of good practice for mental health carers.

More information and updates are available at: www.carers.org/professionals