Bevan Place
Bevan Place at a glance: 16 beds 18-65 For men aged over 50 years (average age of 64 years) Provides rehabilitation and high support to men who have a severe and enduring mental illness, such as schizophrenia 2-5 Two to five year care pathway Staffed by a skilled multi-disciplinary team, including doctors, mental health nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists Committed to supporting ongoing learning recognised with an Excellence in Practice award from Manchester University Received recognition from Manchester University for providing the most outstanding student placement of 2013 Staff are helpful and considerate. 85% 100% Since 2012, 85 per cent of service users have been discharged to placements of a lesser security Of these, 100 per cent were supported to achieve early discharge from their prescribed care pathway
About Bevan Place Bevan Place is a 16-bed inpatient unit, which opened in 2008 and is based at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport. The unit provides mental health rehabilitation and high support to men aged over 50 years (with an average age of 64 years), who have a severe and enduring mental health issue, for example schizophrenia, and are ready to step down from a medium or low security setting. The team has a proven track record in managing service users who have spent a substantial period of time in a secure environment. Many service users also have varying degrees of cognitive impairment and physical illness. The typical length of stay is two to five years, although longer term placements can be offered if required. Service users are typically discharged into nursing homes, residential homes or sheltered housing accommodation. Supporting recovery The unit provides a comprehensive package of care for people with complex mental health and physical care needs, which is recovery-focused, individualised and developed in collaboration with the service user. Staff dedicate a high level of one-to-one support to service users, to achieve the following aims: 1. To actively support personal recovery and social inclusion 2. To improve quality of life 3. To discharge people into the community safely 4. To empower patients and staff to take therapeutic risks safely A wide range of age-appropriate activities are offered, with a particular focus on continued learning and rehabilitation. In recognition of this work, the unit was awarded an Excellence in Practice award from Manchester University in 2013 for providing an outstanding environment for learning. More specifically, the unit offers: Pharmacological treatment (medication) Comprehensive risk assessments Psychological therapies including: Psycho education Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Cognitive Analytic Therapy Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (one-to-one or group sessions) Mindfulness Brief Family Therapy Drug and alcohol work Neuropsychological screening Pet and animal therapy Interventions to improve day-to-day living skills including: Self-care Washing and ironing Cooking Budgeting Using public transport Group activities including: Baking Music Art and craft Wellbeing Sports Gym As part of their rehabilitation, service users are encouraged to get involved in communitybased activities. These may be undertaken independently or escorted, depending on their needs and could include: Leisure activities Library or college courses Work placements Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Addiction Dependency Solutions Family and friend involvement and support: Service users with lengthy inpatient admission in secure settings can lose contact with family members. Family involvement is actively encouraged as it can play a valuable role in service users recovery. In between visits, service users can keep in regular contact via telephone. Family and friends can often provide a valuable insight into the best ways to support recovery and may be invited to attend meetings and/or appointments with team members. These meetings are also a good opportunity to hear about the support family and friends themselves may need, which can be provided by the team. For example, family interventions can be provided by the team psychologist, which can facilitate difficult conversations and help to overcome relationship difficulties.
The environment Each service user has their own en-suite bathroom and bedroom, which is equipped with a TV and personal safe. Service users are encouraged to bring along personal items to help them to feel at home, for example duvet and pillow covers, photos, books etc. However, please note that some items are not permitted on the unit to ensure service users health and safety. Staff can advise about this prior to admission. A range of communal areas are provided on the unit including lounges, dining area, kitchens and garden areas, which provide opportunities for social interaction and peer support. All areas of the unit are kept clean, tidy, safe and comfortable and the team welcomes any feedback on the environment. Within the last few years, a range of improvements have been made to the unit, including two sensory gardens, a private telephone room and library area. The unit also boasts an extensive collection of photographs and artwork, providing a welcoming and bright environment. There are now two distinct areas to the unit for the purposes of managing vulnerable individuals. Each area offers a garden, kitchen and lounge areas. The team The unit is staffed by an experienced, knowledgeable and skilled multi-disciplinary clinical team and range of support staff, who provide round-the clock-care. The team includes: A Consultant Psychiatrist Speciality doctor Psychologist Registered Mental Health Nurses Nursing Assistants Occupational Therapists Advocacy workers Medical secretary Unit administrator In addition to mandatory training, all members of staff are actively encouraged undertake further training that will be helpful to their role, such as tissue viability, podiatry and physical health promotion. Each member of the team receives clinical supervision and/or line management support. These provide opportunities to review and discuss strengths, concerns and areas for development and allow team members to be kept up to date with service developments and best practice guidelines. This ensures they can deliver the best possible care to service users. The unit welcomes students and was recognised by Manchester University for providing the most outstanding student placement of 2013. Outcomes and feedback Since 2012, 85 per cent of service users have been discharged to placements of lesser security. Of these discharges, 100 per cent were supported to achieve early discharge from the unit s two to five year pathway. The average length of stay was 1400 days compared to a maximum of 1825 days. A number of these discharges were complex and were achieved through the flexibility of the team and their willingness to go the extra mile to arrange appropriate placements and provide support to future providers. The feedback from service users, staff and volunteers is very positive and comments include: I feel safe on this ward. Staff are helpful and considerate. I m satisfied with everything, it couldn t be better. The patient care is very individual. Staff are helpful and welcoming when we visit the ward. To support service users wider health and wellbeing needs, the team works with a range of partners including GPs, community health professionals, hospital staff and others. Training and education: All staff are required to undertake a package of mandatory training before starting employment. Topics include adult safeguarding, conflict resolution, managing challenging behaviour, violence and aggression, movement and handling, equality and diversity and infection prevention and control. There is a requirement that all topics are refreshed at regular intervals.
Referral information The unit can accept referrals for men aged over 50 years, who have a severe and enduring mental illness, such as schizophrenia. The service user would usually live within the Pennine Care footprint, which includes Bury, Oldham, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop and Trafford. However, referrals are also accepted from further afield due to the specialist nature of the unit. To discuss a referral please contact the Clinical Pathways Team on 0161 716 4364.
In my own words a service user s journey I have been in mental health services for a long time and have spent many years in a secure unit. I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when I was young but later the doctors changed this to a diagnosis of personality disorder with psychopathic traits. The first time I knew there was an issue with my mental health was when my mum took me to the GP when I was 16. Since coming to Bevan Place, I have spent time with psychologists, doctors and nurses and I like to discuss things with them. I have been on the same medication for some time, which has really helped. Of all the units I ve been admitted to over the years, this is the one I have enjoyed and has helped me the most. The support at Bevan Place has really helped me. I enjoy life more now and I feel my mental health is much better. I would say to anyone who is about to come to Bevan Place that everyone is really friendly and the unit is really nice. The help I m receiving is wonderful. After many years in hospital, I now have some leave on my own which I really enjoy. I can do lots of different things during my leave, such as visiting my family and doing volunteer work. I have made lots of friends, which is really important to me. There is a café outside the unit, where everyone meets. I like one-to-one time with staff and enjoy listening to music on the computer and also walking, which helps me to keep fit. I also really enjoyed a trip I had with staff into Manchester. Of all the units I ve been admitted to over the years, this is the one I have enjoyed and has helped me the most.
Contact us For further information about Bevan Place, please phone 0161 419 4383. Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7JE. Date of publication: September 2015 Reference: 4000/Bevan Place Brochure Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust