Delivering support for carers of people with psychosis: A train-the-trainer programme

• Introduction to the course: setting the work in the national context, the rationale, and a brief introduction to the evidence base, as well as common obstacles to delivery
• Confidentiality and consent
• Teaching core skills: useful concepts of biopsychosocial development and maintenance of psychosis, ‘active listening’, ‘reflection’, ‘summarising’, ‘normalising’, ‘understanding recovery’, ‘therapeutic optimism and realism’
• Introduction to the impacts of caregiving on carers
• Understanding the caregiving model, relationship to ‘Expressed Emotion’, and relapse of psychosis
• How to position the offer of support to carers
• Introduction to ‘framing problems’ within a carer support intervention
• Introduction to psychoeducation materials for psychosis and bipolar
• Introduction to wellbeing materials and signposting
• Relapse, risk, and recovery planning: how to develop a carer ‘sustainability’ and ‘crisis’ plan
• How to supervise within the caregiving intervention model: sticking to the plan, outcomes, working with complexity

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Plan NICE-recommended condition-specific support service delivery for informal caregivers of those with psychosis or bipolar, in line with NHS England initiatives across early intervention, secondary care, and specialist service contexts.
2. Deliver carer support using a cognitive-behavioural model of caregiving.
3. Deliver half-day training to junior staff in structured carer support delivery.
4. Provide ongoing supervision to junior staff delivering structured carer support.

“This is the first practical carer help I have received—22 years on from my daughter's diagnosis. This is not 'how does that make you feel' therapy—this is a million times more helpful.”
(Carer treated by the Friends and Family Service, PICuP)