Greenwich Mental Health Carer Forum — November 2025

On a brisk November afternoon, unpaid mental health carers across Greenwich gathered once again, not just to share experiences, but to seek answers, influence services, and strengthen community. Facilitated by long-time carer advocate Matthew McKenzie, the forum brought together carers, relatives, professionals, and two guest speakers from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

As I explained when opening the meeting, the purpose of the forum is twofold connection and influence:

November’s session featured two speakers:

✅ Speaker 1 — Lorraine Regan

Director for Community Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

✅ Speaker 2 — Janice Williamson

Carer Involvement Lead, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Both provided insight into service pressures, carer involvement, policy development, training, assessments, and support improvements happening across the trust.

Speaker Introduction — Lorraine Regan

Lorraine opened by introducing her background and role:

Her portfolio covers Greenwich services including:

  • Older adults mental health at Memorial Hospital
  • Community mental health teams at Ferryview & The Heights
  • Learning disability services at Woolwich Centre
  • Perinatal, autism and ADHD at Queen Mary’s
  • Greenwich Time to Talk (IAPT) in Eltham

She acknowledged the challenges and rising demand, stretched services, and the impact this has on patients and carers:

Her priorities include:

  • Improving communication with carers
  • Consistent offer of carers assessments
  • Better involvement and co-production
  • Monitoring carer experience alongside patient experience

Carer Question Session — Experiences, Concerns & Emotional Impact

As always, the most powerful portion of the forum came from carers speaking openly about lived reality, exhaustion, gaps in communication, care-coordination difficulties, cultural needs, and burnout.

Carer Question 1 — Breakdown in Coordination & Carer Burnout

One carer supporting her brother for 25 years described emotional exhaustion:

She highlighted the need for:

  • Better updates
  • Cultural responsiveness
  • Flexible communication
  • Structured hope-building interventions

Carer Question 2 — Carers’ Rights Day & Assessments

Lorraine explained Oxleas’ system:

  • Many assessments completed in-house by social workers
  • Recorded on Rio clinical system
  • Data reported to Greenwich Council
  • Referrals made to Greenwich Carers Centre when needed

She acknowledged recording inconsistencies and ongoing improvement work.

Carer Question 3 — Feeling Unsupported as a Carer

A mother supporting her adult son shared her concerns

Lorraine encouraged follow-up and invited contact to escalate support needs.

Carer Question 4 — Complex Autism, Medication & Crisis

One of the most emotional contributions came from a parent whose life had been transformed by caring responsibilities:

Lorraine advised preparing for the upcoming review meeting, writing key points down, and pushing for supported living progression.

Discussion — Equality, PCREF & Underrepresented Carers

I asked about Oxleas’ work linking PCREF, minority inclusion, and carer participation:

Lorraine shared positive examples:

  • Workshops with Nepalese community
  • Collaboration with faith organisations
  • Reviewing language used during assessments
  • Co-production in service redesigns

But also acknowledged gaps, especially regarding young Black men in psychosis services:

Speaker 2 — Janice Williamson: Carer Involvement, Policy & Training

Arriving midway through the forum, Janice focused on systemic change. She described the Oxleas Carer Shadow Committee, which reviews trust policies:

Major achievements included:

  • Updating confidentiality policy
  • Creating a leaflet explaining confidentiality to carers
  • Standardising ward paperwork, pack materials and terminology across boroughs

She also highlighted:

Peer Engagement Facilitator Programme

  • University-based training
  • Paid involvement in trust projects
  • CV, employment and skills support
  • Carers and former service users eligible

Carers Assessments & Data Monitoring

  • Each team expected to identify unpaid carers
  • Use of SNET tool to record support networks
  • Peer facilitators conducting assessments

Key System Gap Raised — Out-of-Hours Support for Carers

I raised an issue widely recognised across the country regarding carers in crisis:

This sparked discussion about:

  • Crisis lines focusing solely on patients
  • Safeguarding referrals
  • Barriers to A&E attendance
  • Need for trust-wide leadership on carer crisis support

The questions below I asked for Janice input

What training, education, or skills development does Oxleas offer unpaid carers?

This is where I asked how carers can be educated on medication knowledge, coping skills, navigating systems, condition understanding, etc. I focused on if a recovery college could be of use.

Janice’s response:

  • She personally facilitates two online carers groups
  • Brings in invited speakers such as pharmacists and specialists
  • Sessions shaped by what carers say they need
  • Uses groups as the core educational delivery model rather than structured curriculum

What crisis or out-of-hours support is available specifically for carers?

I then asked about safety, overwhelming circumstances for carers, safeguarding, and night-time emergencies.

Janice responsed in an honest and significant way

  • No dedicated out-of-hours support for carers
  • Carers can call the crisis line, but it is designed for patients
  • A&E may be used, but I pointed out that it is difficult and not appropriate in many cases
  • She offered to find out who is responsible for crisis pathway decisions

How is Oxleas’ Trust-wide Carers Strategy being measured — and how do we know it’s working?

I asked the above because I wanted evidence, outcomes, and monitoring.

Janice’s response:

  • The Carers Shadow Committee reviews progress
  • They monitor numbers, complaints, feedback, training
  • Findings are fed into internal meetings and governance

Forum Purpose Reinforced fir Partnership, Invitation & Future Input

The speakers both expressed willingness to return, collaborate and hear more from carers next year:

I then closed the session by affirming the value of shared knowledge, ongoing engagement and platforming lived experience.

Closing Reflections

Carers want and need:

Carers want a seat at the table not as guests, but partners.

The November forum didn’t resolve every challenge, but it moved the conversation forward, strengthened relationships, surfaced systemic gaps and ensured carers’ voices continue shaping mental health services in Greenwich.

As always, I reminded attendees there will be a written summary, so no one is left behind because inclusion begins with information.