Family, friends and carers

Family, friends and carers have a vital role in supporting someone who has a mental health condition, a learning disability or neurodiversity. This can be challenging but support is available. Taking care of your own wellbeing and knowing about your rights as an unpaid carer can help you feel better prepared to support someone else with their recovery.

If you support someone who could not manage without that support and do not get paid to do so,  you are considered a carer. A carer doesn’t have to be someone who lives in the same home as the person who requires support, although many carers do live with those they care for.  People of all ages can be carers including children and young adults.

At Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT), we use the term “carer”. However if you don’t like this word please tell us so we can use words that describe your relationship to the person you care for like wife, husband, partner, daughter, son, friend etc.

Many people do not know that they are considered a carer and may not be aware of their rights to support and information.  Caring can be a rewarding and positive experience but there may be times when advice, information and support is needed.

It is the responsibility of our staff to work in partnership with carers, as staff can learn a lot about our service users from them.  To do this, each service in LYPFT is expected to work within the Triangle of Care framework.  Please speak to the named staff member who is leading on our care of the person you care for.

 

The Triangle of Care

The Triangle of Care was developed by The Carers Trust and describes how carers, service users and professionals can work together to promote safety and recovery and sustain mental wellbeing.

All services in LYPFT use the Triangle of Care framework to improve how they work in partnership with carers.

The Triangle of Care has six standards:

  • 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 around 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 acute care pathway.
  • A range of carer support services are available.

There are ‘carer champions’ in each service area who promote the Triangle of Care standards in their team, but every team member has a responsibility to work within the standards. Each service  is asked to regularly asses themselves against the standards to see where they can improve. Training is also available for staff to increase their awareness of carer issues.

For more information, please contact the Patient and Carer Experience Team.  Call 0113 855 6840 or email lypft.patientexperience@nhs.net

 

How can carer support organisations help you

Carer support organisations provide information, advice and support to carers of people with mental ill health, learning disabilities or neurodiversity.

They can:

  • provide you with someone to talk to including one to one support or peer support groups.
  • inform you of your rights, including advice on welfare benefits.
  • help you to get a carers assessment
  • tell you about the support they offer
  • put you in touch with carers groups if you would like to meet up with other carers
  • Carers Leeds provides support and information for adult and young adult carers in Leeds. Call 0113 380 4300 or email advice@carersleeds.org.uk. LYPFT staff can make a referral to Carers Leeds on your behalf.
  • Leeds Young Carers Support Service provides information and support for children and young people aged under 18 and the professionals supporting them in Leeds. Call 0113 733 9126 or email leedsyoungcarers@family-action.org.uk. LYPFT staff can make a referral to the service using the early help request form on their website.
  • York Carers Centre provides information and support for carers of all ages in York. Call 01904 715 490 or email enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk.
  • Carers UK has information, help and advice for carers. You can call 0808 808 7777 to find support for carers where you live.
Children with a parent in a mental health hospital

Having a parent staying in a mental health hospital can be a difficult time for children and young people.

South London and Maudsley NHS Trust have published age appropriate stories and information for children and young people about having a parent in a mental health hospital.

Children and young people may also be providing care for a parent.

Leeds Young Carers Support Service provide advice and information for young carers, their families and professionals in Leeds.  Call 0113 733 9126 or email leedsyoungcarers@family-action.org.uk

York Carers Centre provides information and support for carers of all ages in York. Call 01904 715 490 or email enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk.

The Carers Trust has information, help and advice for young carers including where to find support where you live.

Getting an assessment of your needs as a carer

The Care Act 2014 gave  the right for carers to request an assessment of their needs. An assessment is done by or on behalf of the local council where you live. The person carrying out the assessment will talk to you about the impact your caring role has on your life and what support you may need to help you.

Contingency Planning

Sometimes something unexpected may happen which might mean that you cannot provide care for your friend or relative.  Having a plan for what to do if this happens can make a real difference for everyone involved.

There are local and nationally available resources to help create an emergency plan.

Find out more about Carers Leeds Emergency Planning

Small groups of people can support one person using an App called Jointly

The Lions Association run a scheme called Message in a Bottle

Advance Care Planning

Two women hugging each other and smiling at the camera. A resource pack is available called 'My Future Wishes: a guide to advance care planning'.My Future Wishes – A Guide to Advance Care Planning is available to help service users, their carers / families and professionals have conversations about future wishes and to record these on an advanced care plan.  This plan has been created to help people have what might be a difficult conversation in a supportive and compassionate way.

Recording future wishes can be empowering and a way for people to feel more in control if their future feels uncertain. If someone is not able to make their wishes known, having an advance care plan  can give assurance that their wishes will still be heard.

The guide includes simple sections on why advance care planning is important and when and how these conversations should be started.  It includes top tips and links to other resources.

Sharing your experiences as a carer

Carers of people who use LYPFT’s mental health, learning disability or neurodiversity services are always welcome to join SUN – our Service User Network

Network members use their experiences to influence service developments at the Trust.  They are people with lived experience of using our services or people who care about someone that does. The SUN enables people to share their views and experiences, look at what works well at LYPFT and give feedback. All of this helps develop LYPFT’s services. The SUN meets every month and members can get involved in different projects that help develop better mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services at LYPFT.

Carers are also welcome to join the Carers Strategic Sub group which ensure that carer’s voices and experiences are heard at senior levels in the Trust.

Please email the Patient and Carer Experience Team  or call 0113 855 6840 for more information.

Page last updated: 17th Dec 2025 9:25am