Summary
Carers are family members or friends who provide unpaid support to people with mental health conditions. Their involvement improves adherence and clinical outcomes and reduces the need for re-hospitalisation. UK mental health guidelines and policies recommend carer involvement in the treatment of people with mental illness across their care pathway. However, it is generally variable and poorly implemented.
We have developed simple manualised clinical procedures to maximise carer involvement in hospital. These involve approaching newly admitted patients and obtaining their preferences and consent for carer involvement. Within seven days of admission, a meeting is held between the patient, their chosen carers and a clinician to discuss the current situation, information provision and ways of working together. Based on this intervention, an online training programme for clinicians has been developed equipping them with knowledge and skills on how to facilitate carer involvement in hospital.
In CAPRI study, which includes different areas of England (Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys, Devon, Cornwall and East London), we will:
- a) test an online training programme to facilitate carer involvement in hospital;
- b) explore the involvement of carers in transitions between hospital and community mental health care in workshops with patients, carers and clinicians.
Principal Investigator
Dr Domenico Giacco
Start date and duration
01 January 2019 – 9 months
Partners and collaborators involved
Professor Stefan Priebe (co-applicant) – Professor of Social and Community Psychiatry, Dr. Joe Reilly (collaborator) – Clinical Director of Research and Development for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Professor Rose McCabe (collaborator) – Professor of Clinical Communication University of Exeter, Dr. Richard Laugharne (collaborator) – Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust University of Exeter
