Welcome to another blog post from carer activist Matthew McKenzie. This blog post updates carers and other organisations who wish to know more about triangle of care. As a Cygnet network ambassodor, I have becoming involved in helping to shape carer and family engagement at Cygnet.

It has been over a year since Cygnet launched their Carers Strategy over at Cygnet Churchill. It is not December 2023 and we have come a very long way. Through carer network engagement events around the country and updates of policies to support and inform families and carers.

During 2023, several of Cygnet hospital sites have implemented the Triangle of Care scheme on their wards. For those who do not know about Triangle of Care, it is an Accreditation hosted by national charity Carers Trust.

The Triangle of Care promotes six principles to improve engagement towards families and carers of those using mental health services:

1. Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. Staff are ‘carer aware’ and trained in carer engagement strategies.
3. Policy and practice protocols regarding confidentiality and sharing information, are in place.
4. Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place.
5. A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the care pathway.
6. A range of carer support services are available.

Through a peer review, Cygnet were delighted to be awarded the Triangle of Care badge for the sites the successfully completed the triangle of care stage 1.

So for the 1st of December 2023, Cygnet hosted a christmas celebration party for all those involved. Carer ambassadors, cygnet staff and some others were in attendance.

We also welcomed others who are also looking forward to being part of the Cygnet Carers Network and also to promote mental wellbeing.

Four Cygnet sites have all been awarded the triangle of care badge to show they have made improvements and passed stage 1 Triangle of care. The sites were Cygnet Hospital Sheffield, Cygnet Appletree, Cygnet Fountains and Cygnet Hospital Hexham.

At the Christmas event we had the following congratulatory speeches from David Wilmott, Director of Nursing at Cygnet Health Care. We also had inspirational speeches from Vicky McNally, Director of Partnership & Engagement and Laura Sheridan who is the Group Service Improvement Manager.

Several awards were handed out and a special thanks to carer Karan Ibrahim who helped shared stories and supported carer engagement.

Throughout the event, attendees shared ideas and suggestions on the way forward for Cygnet via their Carers Wish list. This gives a chance for others to help shape the vision for carer engagement at Cygnet.

Congratulations to all 4 Cygnet sites, which can now set an example to other Cygnet sites to make a differance through the implementation of Triangle of care. Here is to 2024.