carers’ support services in middlesbrough involving carers in service development and evaluation...
TRANSCRIPT
CARERS’ SUPPORT
SERVICES IN
MIDDLESBROUGH INVOLVING CARERS IN SERVICE
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
Heather WatsonCarers ’ Support Team Lead, Midd lesbrough and Stockton Mind
Dr Deborah HarrisonNorth Of England Menta l Heal th Deve lopment Un i t (NEMHDU)
Service Background
• Born from an existing group of mental health carers in 2004
• Funded by the PCT now CCG
• Flexibility to shape the service to meet 6 key outcomes
• Flexibility to offer support as and when needed
What does the service offer?
• 1-1 emotional support• Information and advice• Peer support groups• Workshop style courses focused on
wellbeing• ‘Me Time’ groups• Advocacy• Carers’ Support Plans• One-off information events
The Triangle of Care, Carers Included: A Guide to Best Practice in Acute Mental Health Care (Carers Trust, 2013)
Consider the Carer Training
Aims of session:
• To increase the understanding of the mental health carer role
• To understand the needs of mental health carers and establish more effective ways to support them
• To recognise the value of including and involving carers in the care of their relatives or friends
• To recognise the valuable contribution that carers make to society
What the session covers:
• Who are carers?• What do mental health carers
do?• Carers rights and legislation• Communication and
confidentiality• Relapse and recovery in
relation to carers• How we can support carers
better
Evaluation Methods
Aim to explore carer experience of the service and any reported health, wellbeing or wider outcomes
1. Client survey of 85 carers (40% response, n=34)
2. Semi-structured interviews with carers (n=11)
3. Qualitative session with the programme team
Carer involvement/engagement included providing feedback on study aims and evaluation tools, monthly newsletter updates and a final dissemination event
Key Findings
• Extremely high levels of satisfaction
• Improvements in self-rated health and wellbeing, stress levels, family relationships and leisure time activities
• Improved confidence, ability to cope and emotional strength; reduced isolation
‘I have worked myself from a very dark place to somewhere I feel more comfortable, and with their continual support I become stronger on a daily basis… without that service, in all honesty I don’t know where I would be at this moment in time.’ (R27, questionnaire respondent)
Success Factors
• Skills, characteristics and knowledge of the team
• Flexible approach – responsive to changing need and variety of support options
• Accessible service – fast response, easy access and readily available
• Long-term, dependable and consistent
• Holistic, person-centred approach
Contribution of core service elements
1. One-to-one support
• Opportunity to talk openly – ‘I matter’
• Safe, non-judgemental environment
• Outside perspective and a sounding board
• Tailored, individual and flexible
• Not just listening – information, practical help, action plans, signposting
2. Peer support groups
• No longer alone
• Meet others with similar experiences
• Share a joke, ideas, information
• Reassurance: ‘I’ve been there and things will get better’
• ‘Pool information’ to identify service issues
3. ‘Me Time’ craft group
• Response to identified need for ‘time out’
• Socialise, relax and take time for yourself
• No longer ‘just a carer’ – feel energised
• Can ‘just be’ - no pressure or expectation
• Leave caring responsibilities at the door
4. Information sharing and training
• Source of information and practical advice
• Things that matter: Legal info, finances, rights, diagnoses
• Developing skills and building insight into services and conditions
• Platform for discussion, catalyst for change
Positive Experience‘It was just the instant connection with people who knew what I was talking about, understood the kind of difficulties we were having, accepted the situation… The fact I didn’t have to wait, just an instant referral and we were put in touch with somebody who over a long period of time has in all sorts of different ways and at different levels provided help and support…
It’s not that I’m forever on the doorstep at Mind but it’s just there in the background and I get involved with things as and when.’ (R01, interview discussion)
Recommendations Enhanced routine collection of accessible,
in-depth client data (including demographic details, referral routes and outcomes measures)
Further exploration of support requirements for under-represented groups (including male carers, those who work full-time, younger carers, more diverse ethnic backgrounds)
‘Looking outwards’: Continued awareness raising, professional training and service promotion (including outreach work and making the Carers’ side of Mind more visible)
Full report available online:
http://nemhdu.org.uk/publications /
http://www.middlesbroughandstocktonmind.org.uk/projects-services/carers-support.aspx
01642 257020
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