The Partners in Care campaign has broken new ground by
introducing a training resource designed not only for mental health
professionals, but also for carers, those they care for, and others
involved in the challenges facing carers.
In June 2005 the Royal College of Psychiatrists made it
mandatory to involve users and carers in the training of
psychiatrists. This initiative was a major outcome of Partners in
Care, a joint campaign between the College and The Princess Royal
Trust for Carers.
The aim of the campaign was to promote effective communication
and partnership between mental health professionals, carers of
people with mental health problems and learning disabilities, and
those they care for.
Partners in Care, which ran from January 2004 to June 2005,
offers a wide range of materials, including checklists designed to
promote good practice and communication between doctors, carers and
patients; leaflets on caring for people with different mental
health problems and learning disabilities; and a booklet on
confidentiality, a key issue for all concerned.
The success of the campaign has resulted in the materials
being brought together as a training resource. It is hoped that
this will be used for trainees in psychiatry and allied
professions, including psychology, social work, nursing and family
therapy.
The resource will help tutors and training programme directors
ensure that carer issues are well covered in training. It will also
be useful for psychiatrists and other members of the
multidisciplinary team in their Continuing Professional
Development.
The College hopes that the new training resource will also
have a wider audience in primary care, health management training,
social services and policy making in relation to carer involvement,
as well as promoting carers issues among carers themselves and in
carers' organisations.
The training resource is prefaced by a speech made by Her
Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, at the launch of the Partners
in Care campaign in 2004, and has a foreword by Dr. Mike Shooter
and Professor Sheila Hollins (past and current Presidents of the
Royal College of Psychiatrists) and Peter Tihanyi, Policy Director
of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
Dr. Mike McClure, Director of Public Education for the Royal
College of Psychiatrists, provides an introduction on knowledge,
skills and attitudes about carers of people with mental health
problems and learning disabilities.
The resource contains modules on caring in general; young
carers and families; different mental health conditions;
partnerships between professionals and carers and users;
communication; and training for carers. Each module has CD
additions to facilitate training practice.
A list of helpful organisations is included, along with
references, an evaluation section and a catalogue of campaign
materials with an order form.
"Partners in Care has stimulated dialogue, brought people
together, and drawn attention to the needs of carers of all ages,"
says Professor Hollins.
"The Royal College of Psychiatrists hopes that this training
resource, which encapsulates the wide-ranging activities of this
much-needed campaign, will ensure that current and future
generations of mental health professionals work in true partnership
with carers and the people they care for."
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127