Our person-centred service has been designed with wellness in mind, providing a safe and comfortable environment that promotes efficient rehabilitation and recovery. We are dedicated to understand, stabilise and break the traumatic cycles of relapse that can impact service users’ lives.

Our psychology and occupational therapy led interventions effectively tackle the challenges of mental health and alongside our clinical interventions we help women enhance their personal skills to rebuild their lives.

Our care embraces a balance approach to risk management and therapeutic optimism. Service users have access to a range of therapies and opportunities and care plans are individualised.

“My Mum has never understood her diagnosis before…She is getting better and I’m so pleased.”Service user’s daughter

When the time is right, access to the local community is an essential step along the pathway to independence, for both leisure pursuits and for social training such as shopping and using public transport. External activities are tailored to individual needs and wishes.

Vocational support is provided to help service users prepare for employment and other vocational activities. The women are supported to create CVs, apply for jobs, practice for and attend interviews as well as develop other skills necessary in a work environment.

We also offer a range of internal therapeutic earning positions within Cygnet Appletree where service users have the opportunity to apply for, be interviewed for and take on the responsibility of a suitable job. The women receive training by a staff member that is skilled in the particular job.

Service user profile

• Women aged 18+
• Detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) or informal
• Primary diagnosis of mental illness with:
  • Complex comorbidities
  • Substance, drug and alcohol abuse
  • Treatment resistance
  • Behaviours that challenge
• Aiming for a return to community or community-based care
• History of sexual abuse or domestic violence
• Typical diagnoses: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder or depression
• May have secondary diagnoses of mild learning disability, autism spectrum disorder or personality disorder
• May have a forensic history and/or be stepping down from secure services
• May have a history of repeated acute admissions

Our facilities:

• En-suite bedrooms
• Beauty salon with an on-site beauty therapist
• IT café for computer training
• Therapy kitchen
• Gym / dance studio
• Horticulture polytunnel
• Outdoor spaces including a netball court

Community links:

• Learndirect
• New College Durham
• Leisure centres
• Sunderland FC – provides sports classes
• Arts and culture groups
• Waddington Street Centre – education and training group