>>Voice over: This film promotes best practice when working with carers, friends and families
of people in secure mental health services. Carers, friends and families of people in
secure settings are faced with the most unexpected of circumstances. Many people would have had
to deal with the police, courts and many other agencies before arriving in secure mental health services.
They may have had lots of intrusion into their lives. By the time their loved one is admitted,
many people may be traumatised by their experiences. They
may also feel isolated by the lack of support. Some will have been affected by
their loved one committing a crime or have been a victim of that crime
themselves.
The very experience of visiting their loved one for the first time and of dealing with
the levels of security involved can be distressing. They may be very worried about their loved
one. Because of the complicated nature of their situation, carers, friends and families
find it hard to get support. They can also feel isolated and uninformed.
Each journey into secure services is unique. The impact of having a loved one in secure
services should not be underestimated. Everyone's situation is different. Carers, friends and
families need to be seen as individuals with their own needs from the outset. It's really
important to try to understand their experiences and what support or information they might
need.
Well, it’s been an up and down roller coaster with my son. He's been in and out of hospital
off and on for 12 years now.
One thing for me when I discovered that my son was here was I did feel that stigma. Nobody
really knew but I felt it myself. I thought people are seeing me as a really awful person.
It’s very traumatic seeing your sister going in a police van and going into hospital especially
after we'd been telling them for two years that she'd been unwell.
First time that I had to navigate around the system, it was almost traumatic like because
there was no one consistent person there to give the guidance that was actually required
in terms of what I needed to do and how I needed to do it.
>>Sheena: I think it was the lack of kindness, the lack of honest dialogue that brings you down and
you almost become faceless and your own self-esteem diminishes.
>>Sue: Forensic carers have a lot of different things to deal with that are not easily understood
for example going to the supermarket to buy a loaf of bread and turning around and finding
that your private life is all over the front of the newspaper for example. He lost the
tenancy of his flat. I had to clear that out I had to go back into that flat and face the
trauma of what had happened there with no support. Families need to feel they are involved
in the decisions that are made because they are part of the ongoing treatment and care
of that person.
>>Voiceover: Asking carers, friends and families for information about their loved one can make them feel valued.
It can also help the patient's recovery as they know vital details of their experiences
and history.
Here are some other approaches that carers say are effective.
It's good for me to know that they will listen when I talk about her or when I know she has
one of her triggers that they will respond.
>>Sheena: I had access to a psychotherapist through my local Trust. While he was in high secure
service I was constantly supported by a social worker from the
secure unit that he was returned to. I could contact her by email
or phone and it made a big difference.
The issue bout timely information – clinicians need to really sit you down and have that
sensitive talk with you and give you the opportunity to ask questions and get fears allayed. And
it may not just happen in one session and then you want to think about you know, how
then do you access any relevant services.
Voiceover: Let's take a look at Ashworth Visitor Center to see how they are taking carers, friends
and families needs on board.
>>Amanda: Often our families travel hundreds of miles to come and see their loved one here because
there’s only three high secure hospitals in the country. The center is open prior to
and following visits. They can access lots of resources - information on the Care Act,
information on mental health and recovery and also just have some time, get a drink
and have some support. We also facilitate here psychosocial education programs for carers,
which are carers forums with very clear terms of references.
A lot of our families may work and so it's important with our forums
and things - that we promote them at weekends and at evenings. The way I work is very much
around collaboration with families, working together really.
>>Voiceover: Amanda is very understanding, she’s one of the best I've known to get me other people
to talk to.
Amanda set up the carers group and it's just gone from strength to strength.
She has liaised with all the members of staff; consultant psychiatrist, dietitians
pharmacists. It's knowledge and it's so important to know because it allays my
fears.
Meeting the needs of carers, friends and families is important in
secure mental health settings. As well as helping them, it will also benefit the
patient, the care team and will help develop and improve services.