MHSCRC Webinar Series: The CARERS Trial: Testing the feasibility of a supportive intervention for carers
Seminar
Event date
Tuesday 6 October 2026, 12pm to 1pm
Location
Online only
Audience
Open to carers, service users, practitioners, researchers and commissioners, plus anyone who is interested.
Admission
Free admission, booking required
Event details
The CARERS Trial: Testing the feasibility of a supportive intervention for carers. People with chronic emotion dysregulation (CED) experience impulsivity, self-harm and suicidality, which causes stress and burnout for unpaid carers. This webinar reports the findings of a study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a trial of Family Connections (a 12-session skills and support group intervention for carers) in England.
We undertook a feasibility randomised controlled trial with an embedded qualitative evaluation, co-developed by a carer with lived experience. We randomised 48 dyads of carers and service users and outcomes were collected at 14- and 40-weeks post-baseline. Qualitative interviews were conducted with carers, service users and staff to explore trial processes and experiences.
The criteria for progression to a full trial in terms of recruitment, retention and data collection were met. Carers reported positive experiences of the Family Connections group intervention which impacted positively on their relationships. Outcomes for both carers and service users were positive. In addition, carers and service users found the trial procedures acceptable, demonstrating that it is possible to include dyads in a trial of a social intervention for carers. Providing support to carers of people with CED is important and this study demonstrates that a randomised controlled trial collecting outcomes from both service users and carers, can be undertaken.
This webinar is the fourth in a new series from the Mental Health Social Care Research Centre (MHSCRC) at the University of York and will be presented by Martin Webber and Karen Bulsara.
The webinar series is hosted by the Mental Health Social Care Research Centre (MHSCRC) at the University of York.
-292x263.png){kind=logo}