* Please note where we reference the New Maudsley Carers Skills, this is completely different to ‘The Maudsley Approach’ or ‘FBT’*

New Maudsley Carer Skills works alongside a variety of treatment programmes for eating disorders.

The New Maudsley Model is not a treatment program, but designed to support parents regardless of the current treatment program for the patient.    It is designed to lower anxiety and distress in family members and give carers communication skills, to help them engage to boost self-esteem, and improve communication with their loved one.

New Maudsley Carer Skills is separate to, and very different to, the Maudsley Family Therapy programme, also known as Family-Based Treatment (FBT) or the Maudsley Approach.

New Maudsley Carers Skills information and resources can be found here and here.  We recommend you sign up for the newsletter to have regular updates about free support and training opportunities.

• CAMHS Eating Disorders advice for parents and carers of young people with eating disorders
• BEAT Eating Disorders Training for Parents & Carers UK’s eating disorder charity
• Eva Musby help for parents of children and teens suffering from anorexia and other eating disorders
• Dr Pooky Knightsmith improving mental health one practical idea at a time – Pooky’s knowledge, ideas and advice come from years of study, practice and hard-earned lived experience with PTSD, anorexia, self-harm and depression
• Talk ED online parent support group some parents find comfort through peer support.  Let’s Talk Eating Disorders offers an online parent support group which meets fortnightly
• Charlie Waller Supporting a child with an eating problem knowledge and skills from mental health trainers.

When a child or young person is refusing to eat or drink, and their health is being severely compromised, Nasogastric Tube feeding (NGT) may be offered. NGT is when a thin, flexible tube is placed through the patient’s nose and oesophagus, and allows fluids and nutrition to be passed directly into their stomach.

NGT feeding is usually used in medical wards for patients who cannot safely swallow or are unconscious. For young people with eating disorders, this may be for all food and water, or for meals only. The tube often stays in place, but in some cases will be removed between feeds and used as and when needed.

NGT feeding is designed to be a short term measure and some young people with eating disorders find nutrition easier to accept via NGT. However, where the eating disorder is so severe that the young person refuses tube feeding, compulsory NGT feeding under restraint may be necessary as a life-saving intervention. If this is being discussed for your child, please do talk to any of our team for support and guidance. We can provide information on the legal guidelines, your role in consent and best practice.

• NG tube feeding when someone has anorexia: parents’ questions • Eva Musby (anorexiafamily.com)   this blog answers many common questions parents have about NGT feeding.
• NG tube feeding under physical restraint: understanding the effects on parents and how to support them

• PEACE Pathway for Eating Disorders and Autism they ‘support the supporters’ by providing a carers community and practical resources
• Eating Disorders and Autism National Autistic Society, up to 23% of young people with eating disorders are also autistic
• Autism & Anorexia 5 Things you Need to Know About the Interplay Pooky Knightsmith (2020), based on a talk given for the PEACE pathway
• PDA Informed Eating Disorder Resources from the PDA Society and PDA-related suggestions for healthcare passports
• Liv Label Free the Neurodivergent eating disorder recovery podcast

• 6. ARFID – Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (Mini-series part 1)
• 7. ARFID – Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children (Mini-series part 2)
• 8. ARFID – Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in adults(Mini-series part 2)

• Disordered eating guidance, Transformation Partners in Health and Care a set of guiding principles on how best to support this group, along with case studies, blog and webinar
• Disordered eating blog series features experts by experience and clinicians who developed guidance to try to raise awareness of this presentation.
• Disordered eating webinar improving referrals and supporting young people.

• What is Atypical Anorexia? symptoms, causes and treatment (Eating Disorder HOPE)

• Young Minds Things Not To Say To People With An Eating Disorder | YoungMinds
• Eva Musby has a lot of resources around school as well School support: a checklist for parents of a child with an eating disorder • Eva Musby (anorexiafamily.com)
• On this page look at worksheet 6.6 New Maudsley Carers – newmaudsleycarers-kent

• Bodywhys Podcast – The New Maudsley Carers Skills – EDAW2023 Exploring Dad’s
• Bodywhys animation – Kate’s Dad – A fathers perspective.
• Mark Austin talks openly about coping with his daughter’s eating disorder, Good Morning Britain
• Book: Breakdown and Repair: A Father’s Tale of Stress and Success: Amazon.co.uk: Simmonds, Mark, Streule, Lucy Mark Simmonds who struggled with his own depression and suicidal ideation has written about his journey and his role as a father and carer when it came to looking after his daughter Emily who struggled with anorexia for 6 years.
• Men of F.E.A.S.T. – FEAST (feast-ed.org) is an online forum and an array of useful short webinars created by caring men for caring men.

• How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder by Crosbie, Casey (Oct 2018)
• Autism and Eating Disorders in Teens: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Bullivant, Woods (July 2020)

What ‘Bodywhys The  New Maudsley Carer Skills Podcast, Autism and Eating Disorders’

How Long 45 mins

More and more we are hearing from families who have a loved one with an eating disorder and a diagnosis of autism. When supporting an autistic person with an eating disorder we have to take account of this added layer of difficulty often due to the three areas where both cross over – high levels of anxiety, rigidity and emotional dysregulation.  In this episode, Jenny and Harriet talk through how carers can use the New Maudsley Carer Skills to improve the support they provide.

What ‘Bodywhys The  New Maudsley Carer Skills Podcast, Back to School

How Long 28 mins

It can be a challenging time for anyone and especially for a person with an eating disorder and their family.  In this episode, Jenny and Harriet discuss many scenarios of going back to school and which New Maudsley skills are helpful to use over the next couple of weeks.

What ‘Bodywhys The  New Maudsley Carer Skills Podcast, Preparing for College or University – Guide for Carers’

How Long 41 mins

Whether the person living with an eating disorder will be staying at home or moving away, this huge change in a person’s life can bring up unique challenges and new responsibilities.  This episode explores these challenges and thinks through ways to support someone during this transition.

• Eva Musby Stuck and not eating! Anorexia and eating disorders: parents’ meal support tips a short video on parents’ meal support tips.
• Eva Musby Help your child eat with trust, not logic: the bungee jump a short video with practical support and tips to help your child eat a meal.

• Coping with unhelpful comments and body image at university
• Nurturing your mental health over the festive period