CAMHS National and Specialist Services Directory - SLaM National ...

Snowsfields Adolescent Unit
Location: Maudsley Hospital
Mode: Inpatient, day patient
Average length of inpatient treatment: 40 days
Beds: 11 inpatient and a day treatment service
We scored 90% in the Quality
Network for Inpatients CAMHS
(QNIC) visit. August 2009
We are an open adolescent unit offering mental health care
for adolescents with a serious mental illness, who require
hospital admission. We have developed a national and
international reputation for innovation and pioneered the
introduction of a comprehensive, all hours emergency
admission service.
The majority of the young people we treat are emergency
admissions, however planned admissions can also be
arranged. Admissions are accepted 24 hours a day,
365 days a year, including admissions under the Mental
Health Act.
Approximately half of the young people admitted to
our unit have psychosis. Others have problems relating
to their mood and often pose a risk to themselves. We are
also able to admit young people with a variety of other
psychiatric or neurodevelop mental disorders, or where
there is diagnostic uncertainty.
As we are an open unit, we are unable to admit young
people who pose a level of risk that is not consistent with
being cared for in such an environment. This judgement
is always based on an individual risk assessment rather than
applying absolute exclusion criteria, and is reviewed
regularly. People requiring care in a more secure setting
can be admitted to the unit later if the risk has reduced.
We provide a range of interventions, which are delivered
by a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, teachers,
occupational therapists, social workers and other therapists.
We maintain close links with the person’s referring team
to ensure they experience a smooth transition back to
the community. Day treatment is often used as a stepdown
service and can sometimes be used to avoid
admission altogether.
Criteria
Eligibility
• Adolescents (12 years), up to 18 years old
• Male or female
• Mental illness or suspected mental illness that cannot be
safely managed by outpatient services
Interventions which may be provided
• Comprehensive mental state assessment
• Psychological assessment and treatment
• Access to physical health assessment and appropriate
treatment and advice
• Risk assessment
• Occupational therapy
• Activity programme, including social and recreational
activities, as well as therapeutic groups
• Education provided on site by professional teaching staff
• Family work and psychoeducational support for families
• Care planning, including working with the young person’s
family and carers
• Medication review and prescribing
• Relapse prevention planning
• Social work support, including assistance with benefits
and housing
Exclusion
• Young people requiring a more secure environment
Outcomes
• Formulation and diagnosis
• Stabilisation or resolution of mental health crisis
• Readiness for re-integration into education,
or plans for alternative training and development
• Readiness to resume outpatient psychiatric care
• Relapse prevention strategies
• Improved general well-being
• Comprehensive admission, care plan approach
and discharge summaries
Care option Description Cost Unit Code
Inpatient
Assessment and
treatment
A multidisciplinary assessment is undertaken to create an individual
treatment plan, which is reviewed regularly throughout the stay.
Psychiatric reviews, nursing supervision, routine physical health
monitoring and access to ward-based educational, recreational
and therapeutic groups are provided for all patients.
£530 OBD 60010
Close links are maintained with referring teams to ensure a smooth
transition from inpatient care to the community. Discharge planning
is undertaken using the care programme approach.
“ Snowsfields really helped me mentally and
changed my point of view and the way I react
to problems. The staff have done an excellent
job and helped me as much as they could.”
Former patient
Our length of stay (40 days) compares
favourably with published data; 106 days from
the National Inpatient Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry Study and 128 days from CHYPIE.
Outpatient
Day treatment
Day treatment is used as a transition stage from inpatient to outpatient
care, but may also be used as an alternative to admission. Day
patients are offered an individual package of care, drawing on the
regular daytime group and educational activities of the ward, as well
as individual therapeutic input as needed.
Referrals are accepted from: Contacts: Address:
Consultant psychiatrists
GP consortia
Consultant paediatricians
Mental health professionals
Dr Richard Corrigall, Consultant Child and
Adolescent Psychiatrist
Karren Dickson, Ward Manager
Juleka Khatun, Ward Administrator
£374 Per day 60024
Snowsfields Adolescent Unit
Mapother House
Maudsley Hospital
De Crespigny Park
Denmark Hill
London SE5 8AZ
Tel: 020 3228 2200
Fax: 020 3228 2223
Email: karren.dickson@slam.nhs.uk
22 23