Headspace Support Tools
There is no right or wrong way to use these tools. They are intended to support you. You don’t have to fill them in, but you might find some of the questions listed helpful.
With some of the tools, you can just tick the boxes and give it to a member of staff. Other tools are more for your information and to help you work out your rights or what you would like to happen.
They are here for you to get your views across and to be your own advocate. Or, if you would prefer someone else to speak on your behalf (such as a family member or independent advocate), the tools provide you with some suggestions for questions that you would like to have asked on your behalf.
What’s going on: your right to know
Getting your views across is much easier if you know what is going on.
The Mental Health Commission has a Code of Practice that says that hospital staff should give you full information about your care and treatment. Staff should give you this in a way that is clear and easy for you to understand. This could mean having it explained to you by a member of staff in a way that makes sense to you.
You also have a right to have things written down and staff should give you a written version. Having things written down is useful because it will help you to remember what has been said.
Some questions will not be simple ones for staff to answer and you might have to wait a little while. However, you have a right to have an answer while the question is still current for you.
When you have just arrived, filling out this tool is a way for you to let staff know what is important to you.
Everyone must have a care and treatment plan. This is sometimes called an ICP (individual care plan). It will say what care and treatment you need and lists the goals that you want to achieve for your recovery. You and your parent(s) or guardian should be involved in developing your care plan and be given a copy of it.
This tool can help you ask your care team some questions when you are developing your care plan with them.
When taking an active part in your own recovery, it can be a good idea to look back at how things have gone. This can help you to:
- see if there is anything that you can learn from what has happened
- use this information to set goals for the future.
It is also important to focus on your strengths and how you can use these in your recovery. You can use this form to help you do this.
This tool is to help you work out what to do if you disagree with any part of your treatment and care. It is also for you to explain clearly what you would agree with and what you are unhappy about. You will need to show this to your consultant, your care team and to the person who has agreed to you receiving treatment (usually your parent(s) or guardian).
You need to feel comfortable to express yourself and make the most of your meeting or review (for example, this might be a meeting with your care team to review your care plan). Use this tool to think about what you want to be discussed at the meeting and any statements you may wish to make. When you have filled it in, you may wish to give it to a staff member to be presented and read on your behalf. If it is a meeting you are attending, you may wish to read it yourself.
How to find out more about your medication.
Use this tool to say in advance how you want to be looked after and treated if you become unable to communicate your views and feelings to other people.
This could be because you are too:
- angry
- upset
- confused.
If you feel unhappy about something that has happened and want to talk to someone about it, or want to make a formal complaint about it, then this form is here to help you to get started.
It can help to make a list of advantages and disadvantages when trying to decide between two or more options or choices.
Use this tool to help you find a way forward. It may be useful to ask someone to help you with making this list. Other people can often see possibilities that we might not be aware of ourselves.
This tool will help you to plan what you want to happen (or achieve) before you leave. AND... what you think you need for life outside hospital.
You may also have questions to ask or want a copy of this placed in your health records. You will need to ask a member of staff for help with this.
We encourage you to take notes so you can refer to them when and if you have any questions for your care team about the information you are given.
Your own personal support tools booklet with all ten support tools to help you work out your rights or what you would like to happen
I’ve had my questions answered – now what?
Advocating for yourself is easier if you understand the information, you have been given. If you are able to show other people that you know what you are talking about, then you have a better chance of being understood by them and influencing decisions made about you.
Questions you could ask yourself and your care team about the information you are given:
- What does this information mean to me?
- Do I understand this? If not, then who could explain it to me some more?
- What impact does it have on my care and treatment - Now? - For my future?
- Does it raise new questions for me?
- How can I best get these new questions answered?
Your life doesn’t stop just because you are in hospital. There will be things outside of the hospital that may be important to you. It is OK to ask about these things and express your views on them whatever they are. You may also be thinking about what will happen when you leave hospital.
