The Royal College of Psychiatrists Service Users’ and Carer’ Fora
Group type: 3. Institution or initiative-specific
Contact details
Named contact: Richa Kataria, Membership Operations Manager
Email address: Richa.Kataria@rcpsych.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 3701 2589
Address:
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
21 Prescot Street
London
E1 8BB
Remit of the group
There has been a Patients’ and Carers’ Liaison group at the College since 1988. This evolved into the larger Patients’ and Carers’ Committee, which in turn became the Special Committee of Service Users and Carers (SCPC).
There was a College wide audit of service user and carer involvement by an independent consultant in 2007. The main recommendation from this was the setting up of the current Service Users’ Recovery and Carers’ Fora.
The Service Users’ Forum and Carers’ Fora convened their first meetings on Thursday 31 January 2008.
Aims and Objectives of the Fora:
To support and provide input into the work of the College to ensure that all policy and activity will be informed by the experiences and perspectives identified by service users and carers.
This is achieved through a regular forum which would:
- respond to and initiate strategic policy
- contribute to the development of good practice guidelines
- contribute to the training of College members
- signpost to a wider constituency of service user and carer groups and individuals
- improve mutual understanding with College members
- contribute to supporting good practice.
Frequency of meetings
5 meetings a year. The Service Users’ and Carers’ Fora can nominate members to act as representatives on most College committees or activities which increases this number to hundreds of meetings.
Who can consult the group?
All areas of the College or relevant external groups… The Service Users’ and Carers’ Fora can nominate members to act as representatives on most College committees or activities.
Website
Publications
All College outputs are considered by the Fora.
More about the group (optional)
There are 30 members on each Forum. Fora members are appointed by advertisement and we try to recruit members to reflect the diversity of our Divisions and Specialties
