Addressing the Issues: Guidelines for Good Practice Framework of a Strategy Forensic Carers’ ISSUE GOOD PRACTICE RESPONSE Information provision carers did not want to have to search Comprehensive information pack available on initial visit – for information, especially on admission to services. First covering technical and legal information, as well as information admission follows a crisis, often involving the police, criminal about services and what could be expected. Information should justice services, and this is completely unknown territory for also be impacting on each tailored to the circumstances carers who are also dealing with their own distress. individual carer such as involvement with criminal justice and other services. Communication more than simply handing out information, A dedicated worker would be invaluable in interacting – carers’ but interaction between staff and carers. Staff should find ways with the carers from first visit and throughout their ‘journey’ of helping carers to understand the illness and how they could through forensic services. Information proactively given at the better support their relative. Communication also involves right time, and co-ordination and facilitation of ensuring carers have contact with other professionals in other meetings/interaction with other relevant professionals agencies, relevant to their situation Confidentiality also needed to be addressed through clearer guidelines for staff and more skills and confidence in working with families. Partners in the delivery of care and treatment carers felt Staff training and awareness should include understanding the – assumptions were made about their role and they were excluded need and right for carers to be fully involved in their relative’s from decision-making but expected to fill in the gaps in the care care and treatment; and based on family therapy models of and treatment for their relative. Partnership requires support to protect longer term relationships. involvement at key points of change and decision-making as part of the multi-disciplinary team. assessments should be offered routinely to carers, Carers’ with a consistent and standardised approach covering all aspects of the caring role, and also individual needs carers’ Carers having a voice and being listened to carers need to Access to independent information and support for carers – be able to express their views and have a voice, and be should be routinely available through a support organisation supported through legal processes (such as Tribunal hearings) local to the carer. Dedicated advocacy might be carers’ available, but the crucial element is independence from forensic services and services provided to their relative.
Addressing the Issues: Guidelines for Good Practice Framework of a Forensic Carers’ Strategy ISSUE GOOD PRACTICE RESPONSE Information provision – carers did not want to have to search for information, especially on admission to services. First admission follows a crisis, often involving the police, criminal justice services, and this is completely unknown territory for carers who are also dealing with their own distress. Comprehensive information pack available on initial visit covering technical and legal information, as well as information about services and what could be expected. Information should also be tailored to the circumstances impacting on each individual carer such as involvement with criminal justice and other services. Communication – more than simply handing out information, but interaction between staff and carers. Staff should find ways of helping carers to understand the illness and how they could better support their relative. Communication also involves ensuring carers have contact with other professionals in other agencies, relevant to their situation A dedicated carers’ worker would be invaluable in interacting with the carers from first visit and throughout their ‘journey’ through forensic services. Information proactively given at the right time, and co-ordination and facilitation of meetings/interaction with other relevant professionals Confidentiality also needed to be addressed through clearer guidelines for staff and more skills and confidence in working with families. Partners in the delivery of care and treatment – carers felt assumptions were made about their role and they were excluded from decision-making but expected to fill in the gaps in the care and treatment for their relative. Partnership requires involvement at key points of change and decision-making as part of the multi-disciplinary team. Staff training and awareness should include understanding the need and right for carers to be fully involved in their relative’s care and treatment; and based on family therapy models of support to protect longer term relationships. Carers’ assessments should be offered routinely to carers, with a consistent and standardised approach covering all aspects of the caring role, and also carers’ individual needs Carers having a voice and being listened to – carers need to be able to express their views and have a voice, and be supported through legal processes (such as Tribunal hearings) Access to independent information and support for carers should be routinely available through a support organisation local to the carer. Dedicated carers’ advocacy might be available, but the crucial element is independence from forensic services and services provided to their relative.
Forensic-Network-Carers-Strategy-Report-Sept-12.docx