Partners in Care

A checklist for carers of people with mental health problems

Working in partnership with psychiatrists and carers

 

 

  • Survey: as a carer of someone with a mental health problem, we would be interested on learning how to improve the information we provide for carers. Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey.

 

Questions to ask the psychiatrist

Carers need information and psychiatrists are busy. Carers may not always find out what they need to know about the person they are caring for. This checklist is designed to help you get all the information you need about the diagnosis and treatment of the person you care for.

 

You may be able to get some of this information from other members of the clinical team involved, or from written information that they can provide.

 

If the person gives you permission, the psychiatrist will be able to give you information about their condition and care.

 

Although you may not want to ask all the questions listed, you may find that they help you in preparing to meet the psychiatrist and the mental health team. Not everyone will need all the answers to all these questions at the same time. You may have questions that are not covered in this leaflet. Even so, it should provide a helpful framework for deciding what you do need to know.

 

 

  About the illness
Check box

  What is the diagnosis or problem?
Check box   If a diagnosis has not yet been made, what are the possibilities?
Check box   Why has this happened to them?
Check box

  Will they recover?

 

 

  If a diagnosis has been made
Check box

  What symptoms suggest this diagnosis/illness?
Check box   What is known about the causes of this disorder/illness?
Check box   What is likely to happen in the future? Will it get better or worse?
Check box

  Where can I get written information about this disorder?

 

 

  About the assessment
Check box

 What assessments have already been done?
Check box  Are there any other assessments that might be needed?
Check box  Are there any physical problems that have been discovered? If so, what will need to be done?
Check box

 Have culture and background been considered?

     

 

  Care Programme Approach (CPA)
Check box

  What is the CPA?
Check box   What does the CPA mean?
Check box   Is the person on the CPA? If not, why not?
Check box

  Will I be involved in the CPA?

                     

 

 

  About care and treatment
Check box

  What are the aims of the care and treatment?
Check box   What is a care co-ordinator?
Check box   What part will the care coordinator play in the person’s care?
Check box

  Who else will be involved in the treatment?
Check box   What is your plan for treatment?
Check box   For how long will they need treatment?
Check box   Would talking treatments (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy) be helpful? If so, are they available locally?
Check box  What happens if they refuse treatment?

 

 

 Sharing of information
Check box   Have you asked them about how much information they are happy to share with me?
Check box   Will I be informed about important meetings concerning their care and treatment?
Check box

  Can I see you on my own?
Check box   Would you like to ask me for any other information about them or the family?
Check box   Can I tell you things that will not be shared with the person or other members of staff?
Check box   Are their views on confidentiality clearly marked in their notes?

 

 

 Care and treatment
Check box   What can I do to help?
Check box   Are there any local self-help or carers’ groups that can help me understand the illness?
Check box

  How can I get advice and training in the day-to-day management of the illness?
Check box   Are there any local groups that can provide support?

 

   Getting help
Check box  How can I get in touch with you?
Check box  How do I arrange to see you?
Check box

 Who do I contact if I’m worried about their behaviour?
Check box  What do I do if I’m worried that they are becoming ill again?
Check box  Who do I contact in an emergency?   What help might be available?
Check box  How can I get a second opinion?

 

 

 Carers
Check box   What is the difference between a carer, a nearest relative and a nominated person?
Check box   I understand that, as a carer, I am entitled to an assessment and care plan of my own. Who should I speak to?
Check box

  If I have specific needs of my own, who should I ask?
Check box   If I need help, to whom should I turn?

 

 

 Medication
Check box   What medication is to be used, and how?
Check box   Is the lowest effective dose being prescribed?
Check box

  Can a low dose be taken at first and increased if necessary?
Check box   How often will the medication be reviewed?
Check box   Will I be involved in future discussions about the dose or type of medication?

 

   What should the benefits of this medication be?
Check box   In the short-term
Check box

  In the long-term

 

   What are the possible side-effects of this medication?
Check box   In the short-term
Check box

  In the long-term

 

 

  Managing the medication
Check box

  Why have you chosen this particular medication?
Check box   How long will the medication have to be taken for?
Check box   Are there any other medications that could be used if this one does not work?
Check box

  What symptoms might mean that the dose should be changed?
Check box   What should I do if they experience unpleasant side-effects
Check box   What will happen if they stop taking the medication?
Check box   Do you have any written information about this medications to give me?

 

 

  Hospital treatment
Check box

  Do they need to be admitted to hospital? If so, for how long?
Check box   If they have to go into hospital, which one will it be?
Check box   Will they be on a locked ward?
Check box

  If they get short-term leave from hospital, when and how will I be informed?
Check box   How often will I be able to see them?

 

 

 Discharge from hospital
Check box   What arrangements will be made for their care and monitoring after discharge from hospital?
Check box   If I am not able to look after the person when they are discharged, what will happen?
Check box

  Am I expected to help with anything, especially medication?
Check box   Do you know of any self-help techniques that will help their recovery?

 

   If not admitted to hospital
Check box   Do they need to be admitted to hospital?
Check box

  Are there any alternatives to hospital admission?

 

 

Any other questions

 

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Further help

 

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Provides information, support and advice for carers. Email: support@carers.org

 

This leaflet was produced as part of the Partners in Care campaign, a joint initiative between the Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

 

One of the aims of the Partners in Care campaign was to show that if allDonation button those involved in the care of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities can work together, a trusting partnership can be development between carers, patients and professionals which will be of benefit to all.


Editor: Dr Philip Timms, chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists' Public Education Editorial Board.

Carer input: Members of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers

© June 2010. Review date: June 2012.
 
Royal College of Psychiatrists. This leaflet may be downloaded, printed out, photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as the Royal College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no profit is gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any other way must be obtained from the Head of Publications.  The College does not allow reposting of its leaflets on other sites, but allows them to be linked to directly.
 

Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.

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© 2012 Royal College of Psychiatrists