Triangle of Care member wins prestigious national award for work with carers
A member of our Triangle of Care quality improvement scheme is celebrating winning an award for its pioneering work to strengthen support for carers and families.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust won the Developing a Positive Safety Culture Award at the 2025 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
The award recognised the tangible difference the Trust’s Carers Programme makes to people’s lives - offering extra layers of support, giving carers a stronger voice and working with families to shape better, safer care. The judges praised the specialist training, resources and support packages the Trust had developed with carers and the way it supports NHS staff who are carers themselves.
It was also highlighted that our six ‘carers included’ Triangle of Care standards underpin the Trust’s winning approach.
Joanna Brittan, Carers and Co-production Lead at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, says:
“Being part of Triangle of Care has been pivotal to the success of our Carers Programme, and to winning this award. It’s an incredibly helpful tool, giving us a clear framework to hang our work on and to measure our progress. It also gives us opportunities to network and pick up good practice from others. It’s gold dust.
“There’s always more that we can do, but there is a will across the Trust to get it right for carers and the people who use our services. Our culture now puts carers at the heart of things. We know we can only get the best outcomes for the individual by working within this therapeutic alliance.”
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust received reaccreditation from the Triangle of Care scheme in February 2025. Mary Patel, Triangle of Care Programme Lead at Carers Trust, says:
“We are delighted that one of our members has won this important award, especially at such a challenging time for carer support in the NHS and social care system. It is testament to the team’s hard work and dedication, and the time and energy given by all the carers involved.
“The Award underlines that carers are vital partners in care, and that resourcing meaningful carer involvement and support must be at the heart of shifting from hospital to community, and treatment to prevention.
“Triangle of Care members benefit from having a structured framework that helps them to meet statutory duties to identify and involve unpaid carers. But, more than that, our members tell us they value opportunities to share good ideas and overcome common challenges. More Trusts are set to join soon, which will strengthen the scheme’s impact on people’s lives.”
Carers also value Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s approach, with one saying:
“All staff are gentle, compassionate and give so much time. No question is silly. I feel supported and more importantly so does my daughter. She feels heard.”
and another explaining:
“I felt from day 1 that my son was in the right place for his road to recovery. I learnt a lot from taking on board everything that was said and how to deal with the ups and downs from both being a parent/carer and how my son felt and would deal with every situation.”
Triangle of Care is a quality improvement scheme for health and social care providers that promotes safety, recovery and wellbeing by including and supporting unpaid carers. Originally developed by carers, the scheme is run by Carers Trust and recognises healthcare providers that have committed to continuous improvement according to six key ‘carers included’ standards.
Over 80 mental health providers, including NHS Trusts, charities and private hospitals serving NHS patients, are Triangle of Care members and Carers Trust is gradually opening the scheme to new health and social care sectors. The Triangle of Care is recognised by Care Quality Commission inspectors and supports the NICE recommendations for ‘Supporting Adult Carers’. To find out more, visit the Triangle of Care website.
