It is essential that, as a carer, you get sufficient support from us to help you to continue in your caring role. The HPFT Carer Pathway has been designed to ensure a consistent model of support for carers across HPFT services and also allow performance to be more accurately measured. It is based on five key stages of carer support:
HPFT Carer pathway
Identify
We identify unpaid carers in a variety of ways:
Carers are identified through the service users’ initial assessment
Carers are identified through moves between HPFT teams or other providers
Carers are identified in emergency situations (e.g. Mental Health Act Assessment, S136 admission etc)
Carers are referred to Single Point of Access
Carers can self-refer to Single Point of Access.
Herts residents of all ages, including carers, GPs and other professionals can contact our 24/7 Single Point of Access Mental Health Helpline team at any hour of the day or night, 365 days a year. The team can provide support for Herts residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis, need some mental health support or just want to talk.
Welcome
We welcome and involve carers by acknowledging the vital role they play and communicating information needed when the person they support access our services.
All carers receive a welcome letter and relevant carer resources
All carers are provided with information about the service the person they support is using
All carers will feel involved as staff establish a working partnership to support the service user
Confidentiality will be discussed at first meeting and thereafter. Staff will explore confidentiality
barriers with the carer and service user
All carers are made aware of what support is available to them
All carers are provided with a point of contact to maintain open communication and information on who to contact in an emergency.
Support
We will support you to continue in your caring role by ensuring:
All carers should have a named primary worker to support communication and develop partnership working.
All carers receive an offer of a carers assessment or referral made outside HPFT where appropriate.
All carers are given the opportunity to speak with a clinician alone about the care being provided.
All carers should be supported and encouraged to develop in case of emergence plan (this will enable emergency support to be provided to the person you care for in the event of sudden absence).
Signposting to local community support.
Please follow the links for carer advice, self help and carer courses sections
Involve
We will work in partnership with you, services will aim to:
Agree a regular pattern of communication and support for the carer. Support should be tailored where possible to the carer and their commitments.
Where the service user provide consent carers should be involved in care planning meetings, ward rounds, appointments and the support options being offered to the service user.
Staff will continue to explore confidentiality barriers and use the common-sense confidentiality principles to enable effective joined up working.
Inform the carer of any involvement opportunities to help improve mental health services for service users and carers.
Transition
Supporting a carer through service transitions is an important part of delivering effective joined up care that promotes the safety of the service user.
Services should:
Review carer support needs prior to any service changes ( including discharge)
If moving to a new service within HPFT, agree a dedicated point of contact for the carer (this should be a staff member)
Review the carer assessment, this can be done yearly or anytime throughout care if there are significant changes in the care they provide which will require a new assessment of needs.
