News

1. 

   Existing BFT trainers and supervisors please read: Family Intervention Training for CMHTs and Health Education England (HEE)

   6th January 2021

   Health Education England (HEE) has developed a national curriculum for family intervention training for CMHTs which states that the training they will be commissioning from approved training organisations will be required to:

   • have a minimum of 10 taught days
   • take place over 12 months
   • include regular supervision
   • have some form of assessment
   • include the topics within the curriculum

   The national curriculum only relates at present to CMHTs for adult and older adult services and not to Early Intervention services. The course does not enable participants to train other staff, but does enable them to supervise their colleagues within their CMHT. If you have completed BFT training then you do not need to attend this training course in order to work with families. Existing trainers and supervisors do not need to attend this training in order to continue to train and supervise colleagues in BFT.

   The course will consist of the fundamental elements of BFT, plus aspects of the trainers and supervisors course and the Caring for Carers course which may be familiar to a lot of trainers.

   The Meriden Family Programme welcome the opportunity to be one of four approved providers across England and see this as a way of looking to ensure that family intervention becomes embedded in CMHTs, which for a considerable number of areas has been challenging.

   There have been a number of discussions that have taken place with trainers and supervisors from across the country about the current status of the five day BFT training.

   The message that we are sending out is that you should go ahead with any training plans that you have. If the training and supervision you provide is working well for your organisation then carry on as usual.

   We will be involved in ongoing discussions with HEE and others regarding developing standards for CMHTs in the future and will keep trainers and supervisors informed about any further changes.

   Martin Atchison – Acting Head,
   Meriden Family Programme

    

2. 

   Unpaid carers save UK state £530 million every day of the pandemic

   1st December 2020

   Released for Carers Rights Day 2020, the report ‘Unseen and Undervalued’ from Carers UK highlights the immense value of unpaid carers.  

   Projections based on YouGov polling indicate that unpaid carers across the UK have provided an incredible £135 billion of care since the start of the pandemic in March.  That’s £530 million of care every day! For a full year, at these rates, Carers UK estimates the value of carers’ unpaid support to be equivalent to £193 billion of care a year.

   Carers UK are campaigning for the Government to recognise the contribution of millions of carers and also protect their health and wellbeing; by providing additional support for carers over this winter and ensure that those caring for more than 50 hours a week get access to a funded break.  It is also calling on the Government to increase the income of carers entitled to Carer’s Allowance by £20 a week, to match the increase made months ago to Universal Credit. This would help carers providing 35 hours or more of unpaid care each week to manage both the higher costs of caring in the winter, and the lack of services available to help them stay in work.

3. 

   Looking after someone? Know your rights.

   12th November 2020

   Thursday 26 November 2020 is Carers Rights Day – which is about reaching out to all carers with information, advice and support – as well as raising awareness of their needs. The focus for 2020 is ‘Know Your Rights’.  

   The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of caring, affecting carers’ access to support and services, and their physical and mental health. Many are caring for the first time, whilst those who’ve been caring for a while are facing greater challenges and pressures than ever before. It’s never been more important for carers to be informed and know their rights.

   To find out more about what carers are entitled to, check out the latest Carers UK ‘looking after someone guide’, which gives the full picture of the practical and financial support available to carers.

   You can also find information about rights and benefits for carers on this site.

   There are three important steps carers can take to find out about what they may be entitled to:

   1. Get a benefits check

   Carer’s Allowance is known as the main benefit for carers. But not everyone is eligible to claim it, so it’s a good idea to arrange a benefits check to see what financial support you may be entitled to. You can also use the Turn2us benefits calculator on the Carers UK website.

   2. Find out about practical support

   A Carer may need practical support – for example short breaks, equipment to help make caring easier, or information about local groups that can help. All carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment from their local council.  The assessment will look at how caring affects a carer’s life, including their physical, mental and emotional needs, and if they are able or willing to carry on caring.

   3. Connect with other carers

   Caring can be isolating. When we’re looking after someone, it’s not always easy to find people who really know what caring is like and are able to give us help and understanding. There are carer support groups across the UK – use the Carers UK’s website directory of local services to find out more.

   Many carers also find online forums a huge source of support – a place where carers can share what’s on their mind, anytime of the day or night, with other carers who understand what they are going through.

   Find out more about the Carers UK Forum.

4. 

   Caring behind closed doors

   1st November 2020

   Carers UK has just released ‘Caring Behind Closed Doors: 6 months on’ – a report based on an online survey of almost 6,000 unpaid carers.  This survey looked at the impact of caring on carers’ lives over the first 6 months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

   Not only has Covid-19 added another estimated 4.5 million new unpaid carers to the 9.1 million carers identified pre-pandemic, it has also increased the amount of care that carers have to give. 81% of carers reported that they were providing more care than pre-pandemic, putting up their caring time from an average of 55 hours a week to 65 hours a week.  This increased level of caring responsibility has had a negative effect on carers’ lives, affecting their emotional and physical health, ability to work, and financial situations.

   Almost two thirds of carers say that their mental health has worsened as a result of the pandemic with many reporting feeling exhausted and close to breaking point. With winter ahead and the current increase in infections and lockdown measures, this survey shows that many carers have escalating levels of stress and anxiety – not helped by respite care being less available. 

   The report found some positive points based on innovations in technology, with a few carers appreciating a slower pace of life during lockdown. However the vast majority of unpaid carers have found life significantly more difficult.

5. 

   Up to 10 million people are predicted to be in need of mental health support

   11th October 2020

   The Centre for Mental Health has worked with NHS colleagues to build a model based on the best available evidence to forecast how many people may need mental health support as a result of the pandemic.  This model estimates services for England will need a combined capacity for over 10 million additional people (10.08m). The results are detailed in a briefing paper ‘Covid-19 and the nation’s mental health.’ Forecasting needs and risks in the UK: October 2020

   Nationally, in England, the model predicts that up to 10 million people (almost 20% of the population) will need either new or additional mental health support as a direct consequence of the crisis. 1.5 million of those will be children and young people under 18.

   About two-thirds of people who will need support already have existing mental health needs, including severe mental illness.

   The majority of people will need support for depression or anxiety, or both. Others will need help for trauma symptoms and a range of other difficulties, including complicated grief arising from bereavement and loss.

   As further evidence becomes available, the figures may rise: for example when the extent of the unequal effects of the pandemic on Black and minority ethnic communities, on care homes and disabled people becomes clear.

   The report recommends that the Government and the NHS must take steps now to prepare. Mental health problems cannot be ignored. A proactive, timely, compassionate and effective response will help people experiencing mental health difficulties before they reach crisis point.