A comparison of carers needs for service users cared for both in and out of area
| Date | 10 May 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20441281311320729 |
| Pages | 143-151 |
| Published date | 10 May 2013 |
| Author | Heidi Emery,Bridget Jones,Eddie Chaplin |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care |
A comparison of carers needs for service
users cared for both in and out of area
Heidi Emery, Bridget Jones and Eddie Chaplin
Abstract
Purpose – This paper describes an ongoing process of engagement with carers of people with
intellectual disabilities currently being monitored by an out of area service for both carers of
people placed both in area and out of area within a local Mental Health Learning Disabilities team in
South London.
Design/methodology/approach – Using a series of consultation events, carers were asked to
participate in a free dialogue which focussed on everyday issues for carers. This included financial
implications of caring, knowledge of care pathways/systems in care, carer’s needs and expectations
and the support they currently receive.
Findings – This paper highlighted a number of issues and concerns that carers face in their daily lives
when supporting one or more people. These include lack of recognition, financial difficulties, lack of
training and support.
Originality/value – This project offered a valuable insight into current carer perceptions and will help
develop further discussion and promote greater engagement by services and mutual understanding
with this often neglected group.
Keywords Intellectual disability, Learning disability, Carers, Family, Consultation, Out of area
Paper type Viewpoint
Background
The Placement Monitoring Team was set up in 2005, initially funded as a scoping project to
identify those out of area (OOA) detained under the Mental Health Act (Department of Health
(DH, 1983)). Following evaluation this was developed as part of the mental health learning
disabilities (MHLDs) service with a remit to monitor clinical care and ensure movement to
least restrictive placements as appropriate (DH, 2004). A key component of the service is to
monitor the quality of private services through regular audit and face-to-face scrutiny in line
with the Care Quality Commission (CQC, 2012) standards. The team comprises of one full
time nurse (placement coordinator), one part time consultant psychiatrist and an identified
supervisor from the MHLD team.
This paper describes the service relationship and engagement with carers and how this has
been developed to give this group a voice. A service audit identified that carers at the time
were isolated, suffered from a lack of information and experienced difficulty receiving
acknowledgement of their relationships and the impact of their current caring situation on
them. At the outset of the OOA service half of the carers of people who had been placed OOA
were not engaged with the placement and of those who were engaged many had no contact
with local services from the area in which they originated. This lack of contact may be for a
number of reasons such as geographical distance, relationship having broken down with the
person they are caring for before being placed OOA, unable to get time of work, financial, etc.
These findings started a case by case process of engagement and involvement to try to give
information to the carer and to ascertain the level of involvement current carers expected and
DOI 10.1108/20441281311320729 VOL. 7 NO. 3 2013, pp. 143-151, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282
j
ADVANCES IN MENTALHEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
PAGE 143
Heidi Emery, Bridget Jones
and Eddie Chaplin are all
based at the South London
and Maudsley NHS
Foundation Trust,
London, UK.
The project was funded by the
Maudsley Charitable Funds.
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