The service supports up to 16 women, who may be detained under the Mental Health Act or informal. The focus of the service is to help stabilise and settle individuals and assess their needs thoroughly. During their time on the ward, service users may have their medications adjusted and other interventions will be considered and, where appropriate, put into place.

Service users on Sandford Ward have support from the full multi-disciplinary team (MDT) with a range of interventions available. Sandford Ward aims to work collaboratively with service users and their family/carers in formulating and providing person-centred care tailored towards each individual needs, to help prepare for independent life back in the community or for moving into mainstream rehabilitation.

“I have improved lots since I’ve been here. I rate the activities and therapy trips, its helped me a lot to engage with these. Gym, therapy walks, creative space, and also to engage with the psychology team.””Service user

All wards offer an Active Life programme to increase service user understanding of the intrinsic benefits of exercise for supporting sustained mental health recovery. This is achieved through a physical health assessment and a tailored individual care plan.

We also offer a comprehensive programme for those individuals who, as well as having a mental illness, have abused drugs and/or alcohol. This programme is integrated into the therapeutic programme across the hospital and is accessible to all service users.

Our service user profile:

• Women, aged 18+
• May be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act
• Experiencing an acute episode of mental illness requiring a crisis admission
• Diagnoses may include:
  • Acute mental illness
  • Acute depressive illness
  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bi-polar disorder
  • Personality disorder
  • Dual diagnosis
• May present with co-morbid presentations:
  • Self-harm
  • Substance misuse issues
  • Complex needs