Older People Locked Service

We provide a specialist locked mental health service for older male service users at Cygnet Hospital Bierley in West Yorkshire. The service specifically caters for male service users who have a serious mental disorder and who could have a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder, mild learning disability, present with disturbed behaviour, or are a risk of physical danger to others or themselves. Service users will normally be detained under the mental health act.

Greater reliance is placed on staff observation and support rather than physical security arrangements. The aim is to provide a homely environment which has therapeutic, occupational and recreational opportunities within a continuous risk assessment/risk management framework. Ongoing assessment, medication and support are the key elements used to managing behaviour. The recovery goal will involve a move on to other facilities or residential care.

Admission Criteria

We accept service users who are:

  • Older males (dependent on presentation)
  • requiring assessment and/or treatment for a formal mental disorder and/or secondary diagnosis and risk associated with the illness
  • detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
  • presenting with behaviour that cannot be managed safely in an open environment and requiring a locked setting
  • displaying one or more of the stated behavioural characteristics:
    • aggression and violence towards people and property
    • absconding: usually periodic or persistent, the consequences of the absconding are may be serious
    • sexually problematic behaviour (not related to particular offence category)
    • suicidal behaviour
  • they may present a risk to others, or present with immediate risk to self, i.e. risk of self-harm/suicide
  • they have been assessed as not being able to respond to transitional services within 18 months - 2 years

Service Objectives

The main objectives of the service are to:

  • Provide a therapeutic approach in a safe and secure environment
  • Develop a care plan that meets an individual's health and social care needs that is regularly evaluated and reformulated
  • Provide a multi-disciplinary approach and input to service delivery
  • Provide comprehensive assessments of needs, which will include family, carer and service user needs
  • Involve service users and their carers in individual care planning decisions
  • Provide an aesthetically pleasing environment and surroundings
  • Provide sufficient space and storage to allow accumulation of personal effects
  • Ensure the funding authority is regularly updated and informed

The core clinical team consists of Medical, Occupational and Nursing staff working as a multi-disciplinary team with emphasis on core competencies to proficiently deliver health care. Therapy concentrates on self care, complex living skill and healthy living with models of care reflecting this and offering focused interventions. Wherever possible interventions involve self management strategies.

Locations

We provide a locked mental health care for older men at the following Cygnet Health hospital:

Why Refer to our locked service for older people?

  • Ideal for step down from low or medium secure services.
  • Comfortable, homely environment for enhanced quality of life.
  • We can cater for frail service users or those with physical health problems.

Service available at: