title: Carers' experiences of assertive outreach services: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent government policy has highlighted the needs of family and friends who provide support to mental health service users. Carers of assertive outreach (AO) service users may be particularly in need of support. However, little is known about their experiences and how services can support them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of carers of individuals receiving an AO service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were positive about the service they and their relatives received from AO teams. They described the service as flexible and responsive to their needs and they had developed close collaborative relationships with AO workers. AO workers were considered by carers to be an extension of their family system. AO interventions helped their relatives to regain independence and enabled participants to feel less burdened by their caring role, thereby improving the carer's quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unique way in which AO teams engage and work alongside service users and their families is greatly valued by carers.
authors.affiliation: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex, UK. mailhelenhughes@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meddings
authors.forename: Tushna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandrevala
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology