The Triangle of Care
The Triangle of Care is a therapeutic alliance between carers, the people accessing our services and staff delivering our services.
The Triangle of Care
The Triangle of Care aims to promote safety and recovery and to sustain well-being in mental health by including and supporting carers. This approach was initially developed by carers and staff seeking to improve carer engagement in acute inpatient services. It has now been extended to cover all services within a mental health service whether they be an inpatient, community team or specialist service such as eating disorders or forensic.
Carers are vital partners in the provision of mental health and social care services. 1.5 million people care for someone with mental ill health in the UK. The Triangle of Care approach is aimed at encouraging partnership working with carers at all levels of care from the individual to overall service planning.
The concept of a triangle has been proposed by many carers who wish to be thought of as active partners within the care team. Carers want to see a collaborative team approach to care and to be seen as partners in that care. They also want to be kept involved and informed throughout the assessment, treatment and aftercare planning of the person they care for.
The Key Standards
The Triangle of Care clearly identifies six key standards required to achieve better collaboration and partnership with carers, those receiving support and staff within mental health services:
- Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter
- Staff are 'carer aware' and trained in carer engagement strategies
- Policy and practice protocols regarding confidentiality and sharing information, are in place
- Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place
- A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the care pathway
- A range of carer support services is available