Male PICU

This is a male PICU service that deals with emergency and crisis admissions. All service users are detained under the Mental Health Act. In 2015 Nash Ward achieved the Royal College of Psychiatrists AIMS accreditation with a rating of ‘Excellent’.

The aim is a short, rapid intervention to help people regain a sense of control and order in their lives, so they can move to a less restrictive care setting and return home. The ward provides a range of interventions including occupational therapy, psychology, social work, advocacy and IMHAH services. 

Female acute inpatient mental health

A female acute service providing a safe and stabilising environment for women who may require emergency admission or who are in crisis.

The service can cater for up to 16 women, who may be detained under the Mental Health Act or admitted informally. The focus of the service is to help stabilise and settle people and assess their needs thoroughly.

All wards, including Sanford, offer an Active Life programme to increase service user understanding of the intrinsic benefits of exercise for supporting sustained mental health recovery.

Women’s low secure ward 

This is a female low secure mental health service supporting up to 16 women. It provides a recovery-focused care pathway for those with complex needs, many of whom will have a forensic background. The focus is helping service users develop their independence and coping skills – and gain insight into their illness. The aim is to support the women to move on to a less secure environment with a step towards community integration.

Interventions include dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), schema therapy, family therapy and activities such as dance, art and music therapy, swimming, fishing and horse riding.

Female personality disorder service  

This is a 16-bed highly specialised personality disorder service. The service provides a behavioural approach and a fully comprehensive dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) programme focused on generalisation of skills.

Service users may have a secondary diagnosis of disordered eating or autism, or present with self-harm, substance abuse or a history of trauma. 

Collaborative working is an essential part of Knightstone Ward, not only with external professionals but also carers. They have the option to contact the team and attend meetings, where appropriate.

Women’s high dependency rehabilitation

This is a female high dependency inpatient rehabilitation service, providing a recovery-focused care pathway for women who have been in hospital for an extended period of time and who are preparing for community life before discharge. 

As an intensive community rehabilitation service, Cygnet Lodge Kewstoke is separate from the main hospital. It provides the next step in the care pathway from the female low secure and personality disorder wards – or can act as a step up from community placements which may have broken down. 

The lodge supports up to 12 women who may have a range of mental health difficulties, including personality disorder or a mild learning disability (as a secondary diagnosis).