Improving access to services and information

Our history of effective carer services, dedicated research team and campaigning work make us keenly aware of the problems carers often face accessing services and information. We work in partnership with local authorities and PCTs to help raise awareness of some of these problems and find solutions.

Training for professionals

young woman, back to camera, talking to a professional of some sortIn a review of training needs, local authority carer service leads requested training on how to deal with carers of people with mental health problems, to give them more awareness of the particular needs and concerns of this group.

We were chosen to deliver the training, funded by the Department of Health, because of our unique insight into mental illness carers and history of delivering carer services. The training is being delivered by a Rethink Mental Illness worker and a carer, to carer services leads from 15 local authorities. 

Professionals must stop pushing carers out from information involving the patient. They need to be open, respectful and able to discuss the problems taking place. This situation is no better than years ago.

Carer

Overlooked carers

West Essex PCT and the health improvement team from NHS West Essex commissioned Rethink Mental Illness to work with the local BME communities to improve their awareness of wellbeing and mental health issues and reduce barriers to accessing services.

We consulted the BME communities and identified interaction between GPs and people with mental health problems and their carers as a priority for improvement. The team then facilitated a consultation event that included GPs and representatives from the communities to overcome cultural differences and misconceptions on both sides about mental illness and the role of carers.

Confidentiality

Our Who Cares survey (2004) found that 71% of carers felt confidentiality issues are used in an unhelpful way to block the sharing of information at least some of the time. In 2004, our research team was commissioned to identify best practice when mental health professionals share information with carers.

The research recommended training for mental health professionals to help them feel more confident and competent in sharing appropriate information with carers.

The training, funded again by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and developed with carers, service users and professionals, was piloted as an e-learning package. It contains both information resources and an interactive nine lesson course based upon scenarios provided by carers, service users and professionals.

Following positive feedback – all participants reportedly ‘learnt a little’ and 63% ‘learnt a great deal’ – the e-learning package is now available.

For more information call 0300 5000 927.