Partners in Care Training Resource. Mike McClure (ed.) London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2005, £45.00, 256 sheets in ring-binder+ CD–ROM, ISBN: 190467128 4

This book is timely, as the recognition and assessment of carers’ needs is still erratic within many areas of mental health. It deals comprehensively with issues relating to developing partnerships between carers, users and mental health professionals. The key themes are the recognition and understanding of the needs of carers and service users, the provision of relevant information and the participation of carers and users in training. The issue of confidentiality, which is frequently seen as a barrier to partnership working, is dealt with pragmatically. It was particularly reassuring to note the chapter on young carers and families, as this is an area that is increasingly recognised within mental health. In addition, the contribution of carers’ own stories is both poignant and helps to provide insight into their shared experiences.

All six chapters are of interest and the training resource can be adapted to the training needs of individuals. Practical guidance and teaching material is supplied both in hard copy and on the CD–ROM. In addition there are checklists for good practice that will ensure relevant information is provided consistently to users and carers across specialties. For those that prefer not to complete forms, these checklists are helpful as an aide-memoire.

Criticisms of the book include the poor editing and the frequent repetition of information and learning objectives. However, as the book is unlikely to be read as a whole this should not matter. Partners in Care is an excellent example of collaborative working between two key organisations (the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers). Overall it is a useful, well-constructed book that provides a concise and practical guide to improving partnership working with carers and service users. Although primarily aimed at psychiatrists, this training manual is clearly a much-needed resource for all mental health professionals and organisations. I would recommend this book and hope it will be circulated within mental health services.