Information sharing: how professionals can work more effectively with carers

1. Information sharing: how professionals can work more effectively with carers Vanessa Pinfold, Head of Research Valerie Minns, Rethink Trustee and carer

2. Summary Sharing perspectives • Research • Training What next – spreading positive practices

3. Caring partnerships Positive information practices involve: • Service users • Carers • Mental health professionals Built upon: • Trust, respect, understanding • Open and honest communication

4. “The brick wall”: use of patient confidentiality

5. Complexity • I don’t want my carer involved – nothing should be shared without my prior approval • I need information to help me care effectively and safely - how can I be supportive and plan for the whole family without being included in decision making? • Who is the carer? Its not always easy to tell who is the most appropriate family member or friend to involve. Balancing patient wishes vs. rights of carer Consequences: exclusion, frustration, poorer outcomes ….

6. Pointers for good practice Research in 2004 Rethink and Institute of Psychiatry Funded by DoH

7. Main findings • Complex area, no blue print solutions • Importance of clinical judgement and knowledge of SU and support network • Lack of staff confidences and training • Policies and strategies are useful when developed by SU and carers • Important of consent process • Carers can be supported through information sharing withoutbreaking “patient confidences”

8. Towards valuing carers • Organisational changes required e.g. • Strong policy framework • Carer resources – education, info packs, carer assessments, respite, family education • Individual professionals e.g. • Involve families • Communicate with families • Sign post to alternative sources of support • Use advance statements, collect and update informed consent regularly

9. Framework (A) non-consent • Explore decision with service user • Explain carers need to know • Discuss consequences of not sharing • Assess capacity and risk • Provide supportive explanations to carers • Signpost to other sources of support • Use a carers assessment to identify support requirements

10. Cultural shift in attitudes and practices

11. Training in the North By Valerie Minns

12. Our next steps .. • Carers leading change • Campaigns to raise profile of carers • Training with professionals to improve confidences of working with carers through information sharing • Setting up carers programme in MHRN – mental health research network