Family work for psychosis – Information leaflet

When a person is experiencing mental health concerns, this will also have an impact on the lives of those who care about them. This may include a partner, relatives, close friends and important others.

Family work, sometimes referred to as Family Interventions, aims to offer meetings where those who are concerned about the situation can talk together in a relaxed manner. These meetings focus on people’s strengths and on finding new ways of approaching difficulties and moving forward.

There is a well-established body of research showing that family work can reduce the risk of a person becoming unwell again and improve the quality of life for everyone involved.

Family work can include:
• Sharing information, and experiences of mental health concerns and recovery
• Provide emotional and practical support
• Helping a family identify and build on their strengths
• Encouraging mutual understanding
• Identifying and improving unhelpful patterns of communication
• Improving stress management, communication and problem-solving skills
• Identifying what keeps us well and making a plan to manage any future difficulties

What families have told us:
• “It was very good to get us together talking around a table in a way we might not normally do.”
• “I have learned how to have more constructive discussions with my family to solve problems.”
• “It is well worth doing, laughing is allowed!”
• “Helped us understand what triggers stress and what our flipping points are. To work together with communication skills.”

A trained family worker will arrange to meet with you and your family together.

On average we offer between 10 to 12 sessions, depending on the needs and preferences of those involved. Some families have more, some families have less.

Family work can take place in different settings depending upon what is most appropriate for the discussion that needs to occur and convenient to the people who will be attending. Family work might occur for instance in your home, at a community team base or local hospital.

Before your first appointment, the family worker will discuss with you the most appropriate place for the meeting.

It is helpful for the whole family, or everyone concerned about the situation to come together. It is also important that people don’t feel pressurised to take part, and the meetings can still be extremely helpful when not everyone is at the meeting.

In general, what you say in the meeting is private. We will discuss any exceptions with you.

In very exceptional circumstances, where there are serious concerns that someone may be at risk, we are obliged to pass on this information to the appropriate professionals. We will discuss this with you at the first meeting and answer any questions you might have.

Staff can arrange an interpreter if you need one. Please let us know in advance of a meeting and we will make the arrangements.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Quality statement 3: Family intervention. Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults.
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs80/chapter/quality-statement-3-family-intervention

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]. Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2025 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/931/0525 May 2025 V1

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2028