| |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | Creating a new standard in medium secure care for adolescents with enduring mental illness and challenging behaviours.
Service Description
The Lowther Adolescent Service at St. Andrew's Healthcare, Northampton, is a purpose built new development creating a new standard in medium secure care for adolescents with challenging mental heath needs.
Patient Profile
 The Lowther Adolescent Service is for:
 Adolescent boys and girls between 13 and 18 years of age at admission.
Young people with mental health problems and challenging behaviour, where there is evidence, or risk of, dangerous or offending behaviour, which is unmanageable in local or regional services.
Young people with behavioural problems associated with serious mental illness, disturbed attachment or childhood trauma. Other factors may include family difficulties, educational problems or physical illness.
Young people detained for treatment under the Mental Health Act (1983) or other appropriate legal framework as ordered by a court.
The service will consider young people restricted under Section 41 and 47 of the Mental Health Act (1983).
The service accepts referrals from throughout Great Britain.
Treatment Philosophy
Key features of the programme include:
A comprehensive assessment completed within 10 weeks of admission.
A treatment programme offering a wide range of therapeutic modalities, combining psychiatric, developmental, educational, recreational, family systems and cognitive behavioural perspectives, integrated thorough regular meetings of a Care Programme Approach team with the young person.
Recognition of individual problems and needs through careful assessment and CPA is central to the development and provision of treatment.
Individual and group therapies based on psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and creative therapy principles.
Treatment aims begin by focusing on the management of mental illness and dangerousness and move through the development of appropriate coping skills towards goals expressed in terms of self-management and autonomy.
A multi-disciplinary team approach with access to a full range of primary healthcare services.
The multi-disciplinary team provides an empathic, safe and therapeutic response to disturbed behaviour, trauma and distress. Recognition of individual problems and needs through careful assessment and the Care Programme Approach is central to the development and provision of treatment.
The objective of treatment is to maximise the overall well being and maturation of the young people in our care.
Facilities
The specially designed, medium secure building combines five residential sub units designed to accommodate young people with differing needs:
John Clare - a 14 bed mixed sex assessment unit
Richmond-Watson - a 12 bed male unit
Heritage - a 12 bed female unit
Boardman - a 12 bed mixed sex unit
Nesbitt - a 10 bed discharge preparation unit
This new medium secure facility is built to a very high standard and provides an environment that is welcoming and comfortable, yet safe and highly secure.
The facility provides easy access to a range of sports and recreational facilities, and has therapy and educational classrooms on site.
Educational sessions are provided in response to the assessed need of each young person through individually planned programmes. The Education Department liases with referring Local Education Authorities and agencies, and aims to work within a Statement of Special Education Needs should this apply. Support for young people attending other educational establishments or work experience placements is also provided.
When appropriate, the Workbridge Centre is open to young people, where training and experience in a work setting is available.
The following therapeutic modalities are available:
Cognitive behavioural group and individuals programmes
Individual therapy
Support groups
Family therapy
Art therapy
Drama therapy
Offence related therapy
Community meetings
Activities of daily living
Art and craft sessions
Sport and outdoor activities
Recreation, trips and holidays
Psychoactive medication
Discharge preparation work
Enquiries
For further information, or for information on making a referral to a Consultant Psychiatrist, please contact either the Admissions Officer on 01604 616601 or the Operations Manager on 01604 614334. Alternatively, please email lowther@standrew.co.uk or write to the Admissions Officer at the following address:
St Andrew’s Healthcare
Billing Road
Northampton NN1 5DG
For information on the Lowther Adolescent Service's forthcoming Open Days aimed at referrers and commissioners, please click here
Partnership Working
Through partnership working with Local Authority Secure Units and Young Offender Institutions, our aim is to use our charitable framework and the services' clinical expertise in working with young people with mental health needs to benefit other organisations.
An example of this close relationship is the work now being undertaken with Clare Lodge a LASU in Peterborough. Click here for more information on Clare Lodge.
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