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“A carer is someone who, without payment, provides practical help or emotional support to a relative, friend, or neighbour because of illness or disability. This may include helping with personal care, and medication.”

The importance of sharing information with carers

Carers play a vital role in the lives of many service users. It is essential they are given the information and support needed for them to carry out their caring role. “Confidentiality” should never be used as an excuse to either exclude carers or not listen to them.

Issues in sharing information

Confidentiality and sharing information canbe problematic for carers. In most cases service users who have capacity and withhold consent for information to be shared must have their wishes respected. Exceptions may include issues of safety or safeguarding.

Decisions about information sharing must be regularly revisited to ensure that staff continue to act in accordance with the service users wishes.

When working with service users, staff will:

  • Discuss with the service user what information they do and do not wish to share, and with whom
  • Help service users to distinguish between sensitive and personal issues, which they wish to keep confidential, and more general information they may wish to share
  • Record issues regarding confidentiality in the service user’s note
  • Encourage the use of Advance Statements in order that service users plan their care when they are well and state their wishes should they become unwell
  • Help service users to appreciate the benefits of sharing appropriate information with their carer.

Tel: 01928 753 162

Carers will be given information about

  • The mental health diagnosis
  • Types of behaviour likely to occur
  • Medication - benefits and possible side-effects
  • Local community and inpatient services
  • The Care Programme Approach (CPA)
  • Local and national support groups.

Carers will be helped to understand

  • The present situation
  • Confidentiality restrictions requested by the service user
  • The service user’s treatment plan and its aim
  • Any written care, crisis or recovery plan
  • The role of each professional involved in the service user’s care
  • How to access help, including out-of-hours services.

Carers will be given

  • The opportunity to see a professional on their own
  • The right to confidentiality, similar to service users
  • Encouragement to feel a valued memberof the care team
  • Support to gain the confidence neededto voice their views and any concerns they may have
  • Emotional and practical support
  • An assessment of their needs with their own written care plan, usually by a partner agency.

(From Carers and Confidentiality in MentalHealth, Royal College of Psychiatrists.)

Carers centres

Carers centres are local organisations who support carers. They are a valuable resource and while each carers centre is unique, they all offer a wide range of services designed to support carers.

Halton Carers Centre
62 Church Street,Runcorn, WA7 1LD
Tel: 01928 580 182

Knowsley Carers Centre
149 Cherryfield Drive,Kirkby,L36 8SE
Tel: 0151 549 1412

St Helens Carers Centre
31-35 Baldwin Street,St Helens, WA10 2RS
Tel: 01744 675 615

Warrington Carers Centre
86 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SG
Tel: 0800 731 6941

Wigan Carers Centre
3-5 Frederick Street, Wigan,WN2 3BD
Tel: 01942 705 959

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens and responds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments,compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377
Freephone: 0800 328 2941
Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk

 

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot L34 1PJ

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