Quality standard

Quality statement 8: Carer-focused education and support

Quality statement 8: Carer-focused education and support

Quality statement

Carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia are offered carer‑focused education and support programmes.

Rationale

Providing carer‑focused education and support reduces carer burden and psychological distress, and may improve the carer's quality of life. As part of the initial process of assessment and engagement, carer‑focused education and support programmes can also help carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia to be able to identify symptoms of concern.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Structure

Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia are offered a carer‑focused education and support programme.

Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example care protocols.

Process

Proportion of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia whose carers receive a carer‑focused education and support programme.

Numerator – the number in the denominator whose carers receive a carer‑focused education and support programme.

Denominator – the number of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia with an identified carer.

Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records.

Outcome

Quality of life for carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia.

Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example from patient records.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (such as community health services and mental health services) ensure that systems are in place for carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia to be offered a carer‑focused education and support programme.

Health and social care practitioners ensure that they are aware of the role of carers and offer a carer‑focused education and support programme to carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia.

Commissioners ensure that carer‑focused education and support programmes are available and that the appropriate referral pathways are in place for carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia. They should also ensure that community and mental health teams are able to work collaboratively with education and support programmes.

Carers of adults with psychosis or schizophrenia are offered an education and support programme, which provides information, mutual support and discussion. This can help carers to cope and give them information, such as which symptoms of concern they should look out for.

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Carers

Carers can be anyone who has regular close contact with adults with psychosis and schizophrenia, including advocates, friends or family members, although some family members may choose not to be carers. [NICE's guideline on psychosis and schizophrenia in adults]

Carer-focused education and support programme

A carer‑focused education and support programme should be offered as soon as possible. Such groups provide information, mutual support and open discussion to carers through voluntary participation. The programme should be available as needed and offer a positive message about recovery. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on psychosis and schizophrenia in adults, recommendation 1.1.4.4]

Equality and diversity considerations

If a person does not have access to specialist training or support near their homes, and has difficulty travelling long distances (because of the financial cost or other reasons), they may need additional support.

Equality of language and capability in training carers, needs to be considered.