Service users and families
Information for service users
We are looking for service users to join our research study to assess the effectiveness of Culturally-adapted Family Intervention therapy.
Who can join the study?
You may be eligible to join the CaFI study as a participant if you meet the following inclusion criteria.
- You are of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean descent, including if you self-identify as Black British, Black Caribbean, Black African, African-Caribbean or Mixed African/Caribbean.
- You have at least one parent/grandparent born in a Sub-Saharan African/Caribbean country.
- You have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related psychoses or experiencing First Episode Psychosis (FEP).
- You are receiving treatment via inpatient services, forensic or community services within a participating CaFI Active NHS Trust.
- You are 14 years or older.
- You have sufficient understanding of the English language to complete measures.
- You do not have a significant cognitive impairment (such as organic disorder).
- You have the capacity to provide informed consent (this is assessed by our research team).
- You are well enough to participate in therapy (this is assessed by our research and care team)
- You do not present a high short-term risk to yourselves or others (this is assessed by our research team)
Resources
Study information
Information about what participating in the CaFI study involves can be found on the Taking part page.
More details are also in the documents below:
- CaFI study: participant information sheet (service users) (PDF)
- CaFI study: participant information sheet for young people (service users under 16) (PDF)
Information by region
Sources of help, support and information for service users in specific regions can be found in the following documents.
- Greater Manchester service users (PDF)
- London service users (PDF)
- Southampton service users (PDF)
- Midlands service users (PDF)
- Merseyside service users (PDF)
Information for families
Where family members (FM) are not available, service users can take part in CaFI with nominated Family Support Members (nFSMs) chosen by themselves, or an allocated Family Support Member (aFSM) who is selected by the CaFI team.
Family members and nominated Family Support Members (nFSMs) do not have to be of African or Caribbean origin
Nominated Family Support Members
These are trusted individuals, such as friends, care coordinators and faith/community leaders, who are designated by service users to enable them to participate in CaFI. If a family member is under 18 years old, they would be able to participate with the support of an FSM. Family members and nFSMs do not have to be of African or Caribbean origin. Sufficient understanding of the English language to complete measures is essential (assessed by research team).
Allocated Family Support Members
Service users can choose to have an aFSM if they are without families and are unable to nominate anyone. The pool of aFSMs will include former service users who are befrienders or peer support workers. The CaFI study team recruits these aFSMs. See information for people who would like to volunteer as aFSMs.
Service users will be provided with demographic and other relevant information to help them select an aFSM from those available.
Learn more
Study information
See the taking part page for more details of what the study involves. You can also find more information in the documents below:
Information by region
- London: South London and Maudsley NHS information for families, friends, and carers (PDF)
- Greater Manchester: Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS information for families, friends, and carers (PDF)
- Midlands: Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS information for families, friends, and carers (PDF)
- Southampton: Southern Health NHS information for families, friends, and carers (PDF)
- Liverpool: Pennine Care NHS information for families, friends, and carers (PDF)
Useful resources
- Help and advice for carers (Carers UK)
- Supporting yourself while caring for someone (Mind)
- NHS Practical Guide to Healthy Caring
- Benefits for carers factsheet (Rethink Mental Health)
- Carers’ Assessments (Rethink Mental Health)
- Support guide: Schizophrenia for carers and families (PDF) (SANE)
- NHS England’s Commitment to Carers (PDF)
How to join the study
Clinical teams may refer service users and family members to us if you are eligible.
Alternatively, if you receive mental health care from one of the below NHS Trusts, you can get in touch with us to express an interest in taking part.
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
- Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust
Contact us
Please get in touch if you are receiving care from one of the above Trusts and would like to take part in the CaFI study, or if you have any questions. You can contact us through email, or by completing and submitting our online contact form.
- Email: cafi@gmmh.nhs.uk
- Contact form
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