The Meriden Family Programme recognises a duty of care to people living with mental illness and those who support them. We are working with organisations to establish training which acknowledges the importance of involving families as true partners in care. Some people may not wish to have their families involved in their care or have certain information shared. However, for the majority of people living with mental illness, their families and friends provide them with a stable and on-going support network. The appropriate sharing of information ensures that those providing this care are better informed. If carers are informed then they will be in a better position to aid the persons recovery. Open, collaborative relationships also make it more likely that effective interventions such as family work are offered.
Many professionals find it challenging to balance confidentiality and information sharing. Respecting the service user’s right to confidentiality and meeting the needs of family and friends can be complex. Carers need to have relevant information to enable them to provide the best support. The Meriden Programme aims to equip clinicians to navigate the important issue of sharing information, resulting in positive outcomes for all.
The Meriden Family Programme has subsequently developed a training manual with accompanying materials. We have also designed a 1-day training event entitled “Sharing Information with Family and Friends”. This course is entitled “Sharing Information with the Circle of Care” for our Canadian colleagues. Both of which have been positively evaluated and highly successful.
