East Midlands Family Ambassador service now fully established
Family Ambassadors provide peer support for parents and carers of young people who need highly specialised (usually inpatient) mental health care.
The East Midlands Family Ambassador service is a team of non-clinical professionals with lived experience who can help parents and carers navigate the inpatient journey, providing support in a wide range of areas.
The Family Ambassador team is now fully established in the East Midlands, with four Family Ambassadors in place and a new Family Ambassador Lead set to be welcomed to the team at the end of July. Since its establishment in August 2023, the Family Ambassador team has had success working with parents and carers of young people within East Midlands CAMHS inpatient units.
Family Ambassador Chris Clarke said: “We have provided emotional support to parents and carers throughout their children’s inpatient admission, supported them to be partners in their loved one’s care and treatment, given practical support with claiming benefits such as DLA and PIP, and empowered them to claim free carers’ breaks via Carefree.
“One of the deserving carers to enjoy a break with Carefree was Sara, who has been supported by the Family Ambassador team in recent months. After being referred for a carer’s break, Sara enjoyed a stay at the Belfry in Cambridge for one night. Sara said that she will definitely consider booking in another break with Carefree next year.”
The Family Ambassador team has been focused on developing partnership working with CAMHS units within the East Midlands, working hard to address parents’ feedback to create positive changes within CAMHS units. The Family Ambassador team has also recently updated its family surveys, which have been pivotal in analysing feedback on CAMHS inpatient wards and the Family Ambassador service. Here is just some of the positive feedback shared by parents and carers about their experiences.
On CAMHS inpatient care
“The discharge process for my daughter at the Beacon went very smoothly. She was given plenty of home leave opportunities and an intensive package of support has been provided.”
“The ward staff at The Sett have been so welcoming and supportive. They have really made an effort to keep me updated with my daughter’s care and treatment, which has been great.”
On the Family Ambassador Service
“We feel as though a weight has been lifted now we have spoken with you.”
“You are the first person I have spoken to who actually ‘gets it’.”
“Hearing that your daughter came through this gives me strength too.”