Understanding the Wellbeing and Support Needs of Carers of Parents with Bipolar

Research Question What are the wellbeing being and support needs of partner carers of parents with bipolar and how can these be addressed? Background BD affects 2% of the population in the UK with limited access to effective consistent care leading to worse outcomes. This shortfall in support is met by carers, often partners of people with BD. Despite this we currently know little about partner carers needs. This research will improve understanding of partner carers' wellbeing and support needs and produce a tool for social workers to better address these. Aims and Objectives Aim To understand and address the wellbeing and support needs of partner carers of parents with bipolar. Objectives Work Package 1 (WP1): Online survey to: Determine levels of and factors associated with carer wellbeing. Determine carers needs for support including experiences of carer s assessments. Work Package 2 (WP2): Qualitative interviews to: Understand experiences of carers with respect to their wellbeing and support needs and how they intersect. Work Package 3 (WP3): CoDesign to: Create an impactful toolkit on identifying and addressing carers needs for social workers. Methods A mixed-methods study (online survey, qualitative interviews, and toolkit coproduction) of partner carers of parents with bipolar. Work Package 1: A cross-sectional survey of partners of parents with bipolar covering sociodemographic factors, wellbeing, anxiety and depression, support needs, and experiences and knowledge of carer assessments. N=150. Participants will be recruited from partners of parents in a current NIHR HTA trial, social media recruitment and through Bipolar UK and community settings. Work Package 2: The qualitative interviews in WP2 will provide in depth information about partners wellbeing and support needs and any help they have had with these or would want. N=30. Participants will be purposively sampled from individuals who completed the online survey. Work Package 3: Drawing on learning from WP 1 & 2, the research team collaborate with carers and stakeholders from Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) on a toolkit for social workers to better help partners of parents with BD. N=10 carers and N=10 professionals. Timelines for delivery Months 1-5: Recruit and train staff, create survey, ethical approval, engage carer reference group (CRG), begin recruitment WP1, begin internships: Months 6-10: WP1 interim analysis, Create topic guide for WP2 and begin recruitment, continue internships: Months 11- 15 Continue WP1 and WP2 (including interim analyses), recruit co-design groups for WP3, begin toolkit development, continue internships: Months 16-21: Complete and analyse survey and qualitative data, complete and disseminate toolkit for social workers, write up papers for publication. Anticipated impact and dissemination A key output from this work will be the carer support toolkit from WP3 designed to impact frontline practice. It will be developed and promoted with the support of our third sector and social care collaborators and integrated into training for social care practitioners. We have support from our ICB to ensure immediate impact and to provide a model for national rollout. Other outputs will include open access publications and presentations at clinical and carer conferences.