Carers are key partners in the provision of mental health and social care services. Carers are the people who help to keep their relatives safe and well in the community and are usually the first to be aware of an emerging crisis. They very often notice subtle changes in their relative’s behaviour and the early warning signs of a relapse. Carers often have the principal responsibility for care when the professionals are not there, and are frequently faced with providing care to service users who are acutely unwell. It has been a feature of a number of inquiries into serious adverse events that failure to communicate and listen to carers and families has been a significant contributory factor.
