This presentation proposes that when service providers, service users and their carers/family work together, widespread benefits will flow to all stakeholders. However, mental health services do not commonly engage with carers or family. This presentation describes (a) an extensive review of the literature and (b) mixed method feedback from 134 carers/family about what they received and wanted from mental health services. The findings triangulate carer/family lived experience with multiple diverse literatures, to confirm 7 fundamental engagement practices that carers/family want from health services. Conceptually and statistically, the 7 practices are represented by 2 broad overarching practice themes that (i) address the needs of the service user and (ii) meet the needs of the carer/family member. The findings simplify the complexity of carer/family engagement, highlighting what is required from service providers to make a difference for all stakeholders. Policy, clinical practice, training and future research should encompass the 7 core practices along with consideration of the intertwined relationship of family, carers and the service user suggested by the two broader concepts.