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Table 1 Summary of family and carer focused practices from survey instruments, concepts of practice from the literature and practice audit tools

From: Mental health service engagement with family and carers: what practices are fundamental?

Family and carer practices

Survey instruments

Research

Practice audit tools

Carer experience survey [34]

FFP workforce questionnaire [35]

CUES-C [36]

Practice standards [37]

FF practice review [38]

Conceptual-ising FFP [39]

File audit [40]

Think family audit [41]

1. Identify and acknowledge family and carers

Access and Engagement

  

Acknowledge Parenthood status (including carer and children)

  

Acknowledge Parenthood status (including carer and children)

Acknowledge Parenthood status (including carer and children)

2. Engage and communicate with family and carers

Access and Engagement.

Engagement issues

 

Engaging with carer or children

Coordinated system of care between family & services

Genuine communication

Engaging with carer or children

Engaging with carer or children

3. Involve family member/carer in planning/ collaboration

Involvement in Treatment

Identification of Carers.

Planning for Ongoing Care

 

Involvement in planning of treatment and care

Recognition/input of carer and children into planning (e.g. service user recovery, risk plan

Family care planning & goal setting

Collaborative care and treatment planning

Invite input of carer and children into treatment planning

Invite input of carer and children into treatment planning

4. Assessment of family member/ carer needs

 

Assessing the impact on the child

Connectedness

 

Strength/Risk assessment to children/

Dependent

Assessment of family members

 

Strength/Risk assessment to children/

dependent

Strength/Risk assessment to children/

dependent

5. Provide or offer ongoing support to family and carers

 

Support to carers and children

Parenting and mental illness

Support for carers

Family support

Instrumental, emotional & social support

Practical support to the family

Family support

Family support

6. Provide psycho-education to family and carers

 

Family and parenting support

Information about mental illness and its effects

Psychoeducation

Psycho-education to family members

Awareness raising and education

Psycho-

education

Psycho-

Education

7. Provide or recommend referrals of family and carers to another service

 

Provide referrals

 

Use of other services for carer or children

Liaison between family & services

 

Use of other services regarding needs of carer or children

Use of other services regarding needs of carer or children