Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Ardenleigh: Forensic children and adolescent mental health services (FCAMHS) Secure care services Commissioners information leaflet
Ardenleigh The forensic child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) at Ardenleigh incorporates two services: a 20 bedded medium secure inpatient unit, and Youth FIRST. Postal address is: Ardenleigh, 385 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9SA. Telephone number: 0121 678 4400 Inpatient service The forensic CAMHS at Ardenleigh is a nationally commissioned, 20 bedded, mixed gender unit for young people up to the age of 19. We provide assessment, treatment and care for young people who are experiencing complex mental health difficulties and pose a significant risk to others either through direct physical violence, sexually harmful behaviour and fire setting, and who may also present a risk to themselves. All young people who come into our care receive comprehensive assessment and treatment while at Ardenleigh. Comprehensive assessment includes opinion on diagnostic, psychological and risk formulation. Assessments include detailed analysis of physical and mental health needs, social care needs, educational and vocational needs and needs with respect to family functioning and peer relationships. Therapeutic approaches and interventions are needs-driven and implemented by the multidisciplinary team, in order to meet the holistic needs of young people. These interventions are informed by best evidence in the field and at times can be highly individualistic in nature, due to the complexity of needs within our varied case mix of young people. All the young people in the unit, are detained under either part 2 or part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and are therefore managed using the care programme approach framework. 2
The service offers a wide range of therapeutic interventions at both an individual and group level, using a variety of treatment models and approaches. Treatments and interventions offered are based on the needs of our client group. This means we need to be flexible and adaptable in our approach as our case mix changes. It is also part of our philosophy that we derive strength from the multidisciplinary approach, with many of our interventions being delivered by a number of disciplines, so we can bring a number of skills together in providing these interventions, in order to maximise positive outcomes for our young people. Pharmacological approaches to treatment are also key components of some young people s care. Physical health needs are fully assessed, monitored and managed throughout a young person s care pathway. We also provide interventions for families including assessment, liaison, consultation and specific family work using a variety of approaches. Work with carers includes carer support groups, open days, forums and individual meetings with carers. Photo posed by model 3
The team The team at Ardenleigh are comprised of: psychiatrists, nursing staff, teaching staff, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists, activity workers, speech and language therapists, vocational staff, individual therapists, administration staff, GP, and advocacy staff. At Ardenleigh, the multidisciplinary team co-ordinate the assessment, treatment and care of individual young people in our care. Education The James Brindley Centre for Learning provides the educational input to the unit including the following: a comprehensive educational programme matched to individual s needs, additional curriculum work, collaboratively running groups with multidisciplinary team members, and ongoing liaison and consultation with external educational stakeholders. 4
First Step Trust (FST) The aim of the FST department is to provide additional vocational interventions. These sessions help young people focus on things that are going to help them outside the unit and on life in a normal, working environment. The department also offers extended sessions which help build resilience and provide young people with skills and qualifications that will aid their transition back into the community. These include the following: practical design sessions, business administration qualification, health and safety qualifications, painting and graphic design, car valeting, assisting in the FST shop, CV building, and personal development plans. 5
Facilities Birmingham has a wealth of amenities and enjoys good road and rail links with most of the county due to its central location. Ardenleigh has a range of facilities to support our treatment plans and enhance recovery and positive outcomes for young people. These include: a multi-gym, indoor swimming pool, patients library, astro turf pitch, hairdressers, a shop - which is run by the young people, multifaith and chaplaincy service, primary care suite, occupational therapy workshop, horticultural area, graphic design studio, orchard, full range of educational facilities, common room with access to pool table, cinema, games room, integrated music system, music room, family therapy room, visiting room, and on-site family accommodation. Within our ten bed units or houses - notably Armstrong House and Johnson House - we have the following facilities: en-suite bedrooms with integrated storage, communal lounges with three smaller lounges in each house, allowing separate lounges for males and females and those requiring extra care, games room, cinema pod, 6
dining room, clinic area, choice of outside spaces within the secure perimeter, and laundry room. Ardenleigh referrals Referrals need to meet the admission criteria as outlined below and need to be supported by a consultant psychiatrist. Once a referral has been received this will be discussed at the national referral meeting and if deemed appropriate it will be allocated for assessment. The referrers will be kept informed at each stage of the process. If, following assessment, the young person is deemed suitable for admission, appropriate arrangements will be made for this. There will be an expectation that the relevant local services will remain involved throughout the young person s care and participate in the care programme approach process. Young people are typically referred from the youth justice estate including youth offending teams, young offenders institutions, secure training 7
centres, local authorities secure children s homes, adult units including adult psychiatric intensive care unit, open or low secure adolescent units, independent inpatient environments and tier three CAMHS. Admission criteria The referral letter can be from any psychiatrist, for example, the NHS responsible psychiatrist, a prison psychiatrist or other relevant psychiatrist. The young person will only be considered for clinical assessment by the forensic CAMHS, if they meet the following criteria: The young person is under 18 years of age at the time of referral AND the young person could be detained under either Part 2 or Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 AND The young person presents a risk to others of one or more of the following: direct violence liable to result in injury to people, sexually aggressive behavior, or destructive and potentially life threatening use of fire. OR The young person is in custodial care and presents a serious risk of suicide and/or severe self-harm AND The referrer can give evidence that serious consideration, and testing where appropriate, of alternatives has already been tried prior to referral, 8
indicating that the case has exceeded the ability of available mental health services to meet the need. * It is not necessary that the referred young person should be facing criminal charges for these risk behaviours, but it is necessary that reliable accounts of such behavior are available. Referred young people who meet these criteria will be assessed to see if their needs can be met by the forensic CAMHS network. If after the assessment a decision has been made to admit the young person to Ardenleigh, the National Commissioning Group will fund the admission and subsequent inpatient episode. Responsibility for funding NHS or independent secondary care for the young person will return to the responsible funding authority when the young person is discharged from Ardenleigh to another setting. Referrals should be made in writing to one of the consultant psychiatrists at Ardenleigh. Enquiries can be made to one of our administrative team on 0121 678 4600/4602 or via fax on 0121 678 4609. Referral checklist Referrers should ensure that they include the following information to ensure timely response to their referral: full referral letter from relevant consultant psychiatrist, relevant supporting documentation including information from education, social care, health and youth justice as appropriate, and a completed referral form. 9
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www.bsmhft.nhs.uk Main switchboard: 0121 301 0000