293 Advance Care Planning in older persons mental health, insights from interdisciplinary healthcare professionals

Abstract Background Later life can be time where older persons face increasing health challenges and major decisions relating to future care. ‘Advance Care Planning’ (ACP) refers to a process of discussion and reflection about a person’s values, goals, and preferences for future care in case they lose the capacity to make decisions and communicate these in the future. The aim of this three-stage action research study is to collaboratively explore the perceptions and understanding of interdisciplinary team members and attendees of Mental Health Services for Older Persons (MHSOP) and their family carers in relation to ACP and to identify ways of improving decision-making practice considering the newly commenced Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act (2015). Methods This presentation focuses on findings from stage one, which involved a survey administered via survey monkey, 3 focus groups and a feedback session with 22 interdisciplinary team members of a MHSOP from the fields of nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, and social work. Results Whilst there is already a culture of facilitating ACP with service users and their family carers within the MHSOP, however this is not routine practice. While clinicians largely recognised the value of ACP, 95% reported a lack of education, 52% a lack of knowledge of ACP tools, and limited experience in engaging with service users (53%) and family carers (47%). Identified barriers to engagement included lack of allocated time, clinician’s confidence, capacity issues and ‘a dedicated pathway across services with joined up conversation’. Conclusion Interdisciplinary professionals overwhelmingly recognised the importance of ACP with service users and family carers, and the positive impact ACP can have on end-of-life care. All indicated an eagerness for additional ACP guidelines and skills training for MHSOP staff.