17 July 2026
Sussex Partnership has been selected to join a new national pilot to help tackle racism in NHS mental health services.
The pilot will explore how the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) can be integrated into the Triangle of Care, so that mental health services can better understand and respond to the experiences and needs of racially marginalised carers.
PCREF, a national anti-racism framework launched by NHS England and co-designed with services, patients and carers, aims to improve equitable access, experience and outcomes for people from ethnically diverse communities. The Triangle of Care programme is a nationally recognised scheme designed to promote safety, recovery and wellbeing by ensuring unpaid carers are included, informed and supported throughout a person’s care journey.
Run by Carers Trust, the national pilot will support mental health providers over the next 12 months to test and refine draft guidance aimed at improving how unpaid carers from racially marginalised communities are identified, involved and supported. Participating organisations will put the Triangle of Care and PCREF guidance into practice, share learning on what works, and help shape final recommendations to support wider adoption across mental health services.
Participation in the pilot reflects Sussex Partnership’s commitment to working in partnership with unpaid carers to improve experiences and outcomes and help build truly carer-friendly communities. This collaborative approach is essential to ensuring that services are developed in ways that are practical, inclusive and sustainable.
Dr Oliver Dale, Chief Medical Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to have been selected to take part in this important pilot. Carers are vital partners in care, and this opportunity will help us strengthen how we recognise, involve and support carers from our diverse local communities. We are particularly pleased to be working alongside carers and community partners to help shape approaches that are more inclusive and equitable."
Anastasia Blaize chaired the PCREF and Triangle of Care Task and Finish Group, which co-produced the draft guidance alongside carers, and is Experience of Care Manager at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. She said:
“PCREF is the first anti-racist framework of its kind and encourages health professionals to have more open and direct conversations with patients and carers from Black, Asian and typically overlooked communities. We know that carers, friends and families from these communities can have difficulty trusting mental health services for a variety of reasons: by aligning the Triangle of Care with PCREF, we’re aiming to help health professionals understand the needs of families and carers, and deliver the support and involvement these communities need.”
Mary Patel, Triangle of Care Programme Lead at Carers Trust, said:
“Supporting someone experiencing mental illness can be very challenging, and carers from racially marginalised communities often face additional barriers. We are grateful to Sussex Partnership for joining this important pilot and helping us test how well the draft guidance reflects carers’ needs and experiences. We are also grateful to the carers and professionals across inpatient and community services who will share their insight, helping us to understand what works in practice and where further change is needed.”
