Involving carers in risk assessment: a study of a structured dialogue between mental health nurses and carers

Background Involving carers is a key priority in mental health services. Carers report the sharing of service users’ safety information by mental health nurses is problematic and seldom takes place.Aims The impact of an intervention on consensus between nurses and carers on perceptions of risk was investigated.Methods Carer–nurse risk consensus scores were measured pre- and post-introduction of a structured dialogue (paired t -test/ANOVA). Carer experience with involvement was surveyed pre-test ( n = 60 ) and compared with the post-test intervention group ( n = 32 ) (chi-square tests of linear-by-linear association).Results Consensus and perceptions regarding type and severity of risk did not change significantly for carers or nurses after engaging in a structured dialogue. Statistically significant differences were found with carers reporting higher levels of satisfaction with services in four out of six areas surveyed.Conclusions Findings provide support for increasing carer contribution to discussions regarding risk. Further work to embed carer involvement in clinical practice is warranted.