GETTING IT RIGHT GUIDE
What families need to know
Carole Haynes
Angela Cole
WHY A GUIDE?
Transforming Care 2012. Families  often not involved in decisions about where people go
 difficult to visit
 concerns and complaints often not acted on
NHS England (London) wanted to do something to help
IT’S NOT EASY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
 Worried about their relative, and their future
 Units can be unsettling
 Professionals can seem very powerful
 The law is complex
 Need to know about a lot of different things
 …but it may also be a relief
FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE A LOT TO OFFER
 what they know about their relative
 monitoring …questioning and calling services to account,
and safeguarding their relative’s rights
 making sure there’s a constant focus on returning home –
helping to make 'short stay' a reality
TO DO THOSE THINGS…
Family members need to know about

people’s rights

how the system works

what should be expected, and

what they can do to influence what happens.
The booklet aims to help family members speak up well
for their relative.
WHAT THE GUIDE DOES
Gives lots of Information
Says what family members should expect to happen:
standards
Makes suggestions: things to do
Gives links to other organisations and helpful resources
HOW WE DID IT
 An ‘advisory group’ of family members met three times
 We thought about the design and the content of the booklet
 The group said what should happen (the standards)
 Other family members were ‘readers’
 A solicitor checked the legal bits
WHAT’S IN IT
How and why people go into
hospital units
About different units
Getting involved and being heard
Rights and responsibilities
Assessment and treatment
MORE
 What happens day to day
 Returning to community life
 What to do if you have concerns
 Organisations that can help, and helpful
things to read
KEY MESSAGES
 try to get good assessment and treatment for the person at
home first, to avoid them having to go into hospital;
 visit and have lots of contact with the person if they do go into
hospital
 encourage other people in their wider circle to maintain regular
contact;
 provide the hospital team with detailed, background
information;
 create a positive relationship with the team by being as calm as
possible, and not confrontational;
MORE…
 be open to advice from the professional team;
 give advice and ‘explain’ things about the person to the team;
 don’t make assumptions - ask questions so you understand what
is happening, and why;
 attend meetings, and send someone else if you can’t;
 support the advocate who is linked to your person by providing
information and meeting with them;
 stay observant – and raise any concerns you have promptly.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
 Get a copy
 Dip in and out
 Tell families about it
 Tell professionals about it
Help get it to people who need it!
YOU CAN GET IT FROM
NHS England (London) – Stephan Brusch
www.england.nhs.uk/london/2014/10/10/l
earning-disabilities
THE BOOKLET FOR PEOPLE IN
HOSPITAL
CHANGE wants to know what you think.
Go to their website www.change.org.uk