Mental Health
Carers Support
Service Training
1
Learning Outcomes
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Who is a mental health
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carer/supporter?
Aims of service
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Pathway of service
Why is supporting mental 
health carers important?
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What is the inclusion
criteria?
How to identify appropriate 
carers?
What are the sensitivities?
Why do some carers
remain “unidentified”?
Why supporting the health
of the carer is so
important?
Role of Pharmacist and
provision of the service
Role of the Community
Link Worker
What is a Carers’
Assessment
Steps in the service and
forms to complete
Reference Sources and
contacts
2
What is a Carer or Supporter?
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A carer or supporter is a person who
gives up his or her own time, usually
without payment, possibly without
recognition or thanks, to help or support
another person who finds it difficult to
manage without help.
Context
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TYC(2011); recognises need for more practical support
for carers
HSCB/PHA Commissioning Plan; Support for carers is a
cornerstone of this and underpins TYC
NI Census 2001; NI higher mental health needs than
rest UK- 24% women, 17% men have a mental health
problem
Number of unpaid carers in NI=214000, SE =44500
The economic cost of carers’ health, if it breaks down,
could be vast- Carers save the local economy £4.4
billion pa
Context cont’d
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DHSSPS Caring For Carers; Recognising,
Valuing and Supporting the Caring Role
(2006);
Identifying carers at the earliest possible time is
important in ensuring that they get the right
information at the right time
Many people carrying out a caring role do not
identify themselves as “Carers” and may not be
aware of the support services available to them
and therefore are not likely to ask for support.
Context cont’d
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One in seven carers took ten years to realise
they were a carer, with nearly half (48%) taking
two years or more to realise
The stigma associated with Mental Healthmany carers will remain “unidentified” and will
not get support available to them
Context cont’d
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Carers UK In Poor Health- the Impact of Caring
on Health (2004);
Carers who provide high levels of care for
relatives and friends, unpaid, are more than
twice as likely to suffer from poor health
compared to people without caring
responsibilities
Context cont’d
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Health Survey NI 2012/13-16% of all carers in NI
say their health is “not good” over last 12 months
In Northern Ireland, one in ten (9%) of all carers
suffers from ill-health.
For those providing substantial care, nearly one in
five (18%) feel they are in poor health
2 million people in UK become carers every year-a
new sector of the population will face the health risks
associated with caring
Why link with pharmacy?
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Pharmacy was seen as a good partner in this
pilot- 9% people visit a community pharmacy
on a daily basis- pharmacists can help identify
“hidden” carers in local communities and can
play a part in signposting carers to additional
services
Pharmacists are in a good position to support
the health and well being of carers
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Making it Better through Pharmacy in the
Community (2014) describes Community
pharmacists valuable role in contributing to
health improvement goals through the
provision of advice, information and services to
people and carers which encourages improved
self management and aids people in making
healthier choices
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Pharmacies seen as the “open door” of the HSC,
providing a welcoming and supportive environment
with high levels of public satisfaction
Community pharmacies are often the first point of
contact with the HSC and studies have shown that
people interact with community pharmacists on
average 12 to 15 times each year, often using the
same pharmacy each time.
They may, on the other hand, only see their family
doctor 3 or 4 times a year.
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The Down area was selected;
low levels of uptake of carers’ assessments
within mental health
lack of accessible community resources to
provide respite opportunities for carers
Overall objectives of pilot:
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To identify carers for people with mental health
difficulties who are not already known to
services
To address the carer’s own health needs
To link them in with existing supports
To facilitate access to a carer’s needs
assessment for those caring for people with
mental health difficulties.
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On completion of the carer’s assessments, to
allow access to a personalised budget for
individualised short breaks and/or respite for
existing carers and those newly identified
through enhanced funding from HSCB, where
appropriate.
Time to share your personal
experience of working with carers
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Have you had any experience of working with
carers? Would anyone like to share their
experience?
What are the aims of the service?
Phase 1 To identify and support those carers who are
not currently in touch with services or
“unidentified” carers and also to support carers
already known to statutory services
Phase 2  To support the health of carers by allowing
them to think about their own health needs and
to support them to sustain their caring role
Flowchart of process Phase 1
Carer identified or referred
Carer meets the Inclusion Criteria; i.e. is
identified as a mental health carer and
provides consent
-complete and send Consent Form to CLW
(form 1)
-complete and send Individual Carer
Record Form to CLW (form 2)
-complete and send Referral Form to CLW
(form 3)
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Carer does not meet the Inclusion
Criteria; i.e. NOT identified as a
mental health carer or does not give
consent;
-give Carers’ Information Booklet and
refer as necessary and note in
Monthly Monitoring Form (form 4)
Monthly;
Complete Monthly Monitoring Form (form 4) for every
Carer referred to CLW
Complete Claim Form monthly and send to HSCB (form 5)
What is the criteria to be involved
in the service?
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The carer needs to be a “carer” of a person
with mental health difficulties
The carer must have given consent to be part
of the service
The carer may, or may not, be a relative
The carer may, or may not, live with the person
Why do some Carers remain
“unidentified”?
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they do not view themselves a carer
the person they care for does not want them to be
viewed as a carer
they are not aware that there are services they
could avail of
the stigma of the illness the person they care for
suffers from e.g. mental illness
they do not want to breach the confidentiality of
the person they care for
concern benefits/finances would be affected
What are the sensitivities of the
service?
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Confidentiality
Anonymity
Suspicion
Judgment
Stigma
Why is supporting the health of
the carer so important?
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To keep well to continue caring
Impact of caring on their health and wellbeing
Carers are much more likely to suffer stress
Twice as likely to suffer from poor health
Time to think about their own health and
wellbeing
Why is this service required?
A Personal Story
Provision of the service
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Pharmacies must have a suitable area
where sensitive conversations can be carried
out in confidence away from other members
of the public or staff; this would normally be a
consultation room
The service must be carried out face to face
with the carer in the pharmacy
continued
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The nominated pharmacist must attend the
relevant training
The pharmacist must provide a full
explanation of the service to the carer
including an explanation of the role of the
Community Link Worker and the nature of the
Carer’s assessment
continued
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The pharmacy must have a SOP in place to
cover delivery of the Carers’ support service.
The pharmacy must have a signed contract in
place before service delivery can commence.
The pilot service will operate from June 2014 to
31st March 2015
How will a carer be identified?
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Pharmacists should display leaflets and
posters to advertise the service within the
pharmacy (one of the requirements of the
service).
Other healthcare professionals, voluntary and
community groups (and so on) may refer
carers through to the pharmacy to access the
service.
continued
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Pharmacists and team members will want to
make carers aware of the service. Remember
however, pharmacists must not use patient
medication records to identify carers.
Pharmacists may want to make other
relevant organisations or groups or
healthcare professionals in their community
aware of the service.
Through press releases
What are the steps in the service?
Go through Checklist
Forms;
 1. Consent Form
 2. Individual Carer Record Form
 3. Referral Form
 4. Monthly Monitoring Form
 5. Claim Form
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What is the role of the Community
Link Worker (CLW)?
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to liaise between all partner agencies and
the community pharmacies spread throughout the
Down area of the Trust
to disseminate up to date information on services
and signpost carers to existing statutory, voluntary
and community services and assist in completing
carers’ assessments
to link identified carers in need of services to the
existing pathways for support and advocacy.
Role of CLW cont’d
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to identify available supports outside the
mental health context that are appropriate to
the needs of the carer.
To facilitate access to respite/short breaks
What a Carers’ Assessment is
not:
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It is not an assessment of the carer’s ability to
care
It is not an assessment of the carer’s mental
health
It is not an assessment of financial status
It does not impact on social security benefits
What is a Carers’ Assessment?
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Is a statutory right for all carers
Confidential private conversation
An engagement opportunity to look at impact of
caring role on carer
A chance for carer to identify their own needs
An opportunity for carer to access support
What are the services community
pharmacist can refer to?
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The Community Link Worker
MindWise
CAUSE
Other voluntary/community groups
Carer Development Officer South Eastern
Trust
Reference Sources for additional
reading
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DHSSPS Caring for Carers: Recognising,
Valuing and Supporting the Caring Role (2006)
Valuing Carers - A Strategy for Carers in
Northern Ireland – DHSSPS (2002)
Carers UK- In Poor Health- the Impact of
Caring on Health (2004)
Choice and Medication Website
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http://www.choiceandmedication.org/hscni/
‘Probably the biggest, best and most
comprehensive independent free website for
patients, carers and professionals about mental
health medication
Choice and Medication website
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Information on
– Mental health medication - 20 questions
– Mental health conditions – 10 questions
– Unique comparison charts of main medications
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Printable information
– PILLs
– QuILLs
– BILLs
Useful contacts
Joan Scott
Carers Development
Officer
Ballynahinch
Community Services,
45-47 Main St,
Ballynahinch,
BT24 8DN
Tel: 028 97 565 456
MindWise
Downpatrick Resource
Centre
12a English Street
Downpatrick, BT30 6AB
Tel: 028 44 617 964
www.mindwisenv.org
CAUSE
Unit 2,
Lesley Office Park,
393 Holywood Road,
Belfast,
BT4 2LS
Tel: 028 90 650 650
www.cause.org.uk
info@cause.org.uk
Community Link Worker :
Kathleen Weir 02844 611789
Kathleen.Weir@setrust.hscni.net
Any Questions?