The Triangle of Care is a programme run by the Carers Trust which provides guidance to help healthcare professionals, unpaid carers and service users to work together to improve the support we provide. It means carers are included in decisions made about the person they care for and ensures carers receive the assistance they need.
We received this accreditation after colleagues from the Livewell Community Mental Health Teams completed self-assessments and made improvements and changes to how they work alongside carers. This was supported by co-production activities including conversations with carers about the criteria in the self-assessments and what they would like to see happen when in contact with our services. The Service User Experience Team who co-ordinate Triangle of Care across Livewell managed the accreditation process.
Achieving this accreditation shows our dedication to actively involving and supporting carers, because they are often the person who knows the service user best of all.
Livewell previously achieved Star 1 for recognising our work with carers in mental health inpatient settings, and reaching Star 2 reflects our commitment to extending this good practice across community services as well.
What do our teams say about how the Triangle of Care shapes their work with carers?
Laura Lomax, Mental Health Nurse (Community Mental Health Team), Sarah Bissett, Peer Support Worker (Community Mental Health Team) and Lesley Manning, Medical Secretary (Community Mental Health Team)
Chimdi Ekumankama – Mental Health Nurse (RMN) – Community Mental Health Team
‘The Triangle of Care is crucial because it emphasises the importance of collaboration between service users, their families, and professionals in providing holistic care. By ensuring that all parties are involved in the care process, we can better address individuals’ needs, promote well-being, and strengthen support systems, ultimately leading to more comprehensive and compassionate care.’
Sidney Barrett – Medical Secretary (Community Mental Health Team)
“Carer awareness is vital for administrative staff as well as clinical staff in the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) as we have such regular contact with carers. Carers can help us build a more accurate picture of an individual’s medication compliance, behaviour, current mental state, activity level and whether there are any additional needs that are not being met. Their contact is crucial to spotting a decline in mental health that the CMHT might otherwise miss. I hope that this highlights the importance of carers and the Triangle of Care and why carers should be respected, listened to and taken seriously.”
Jacquie Skinner – Community Support Worker (Specialist Outreach Team)
“Since attending carers training and receiving support around the Triangle of Care, it has helped increase awareness of carers within the team, and encouraged us all to consider carers in our daily work and to recognise their important role. Triangle of Care and carers are now regular topics in meetings, particularly when discussing new referrals. I have also started visiting carers which provides them with an easier and more informal way to ask questions about the service. I find this a rewarding aspect of my role and it feels that we can make a difference for carers.”
