The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the National Mental Health Development Unit recently published ‘The Triangle of Care – Carers Included: A Best Practice Guide in Acute Mental Health Care.’

The guide emphasises the need for better local strategic involvement of carers and families in the care planning and treatment of people with mental ill-health and recommends better partnership working between service users and their carers, and organisations.

The ‘Triangle of Care’ is a therapeutic alliance between service user, staff member and carer that promotes safety, supports recovery and sustains well being.

The ‘Triangle of Care’ approach was developed by carers and staff to improve carer engagement in acute inpatient and home treatment services. The guide outlines key elements to achieve this, examples of best practice and extensive resources to help people working with carers to involve them more effectively in acute care services. It recognises that this will greatly benefit staff, service users and carers themselves.