All Saints Hospital
This Oldham based project is currently under development.
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The service development for All Saints Hospital in Oldham was initiated by senior clinicians in the field of Mental Health and Deafness. The provision of culturally sensitive services and meeting the requirements of modernising services for Deaf people is at the heart of this unique development.
The Department of Health has recognised the unique needs of Deaf people and the difficulties in providing mental health services that are culturally and linguistically sensitive in mainstream Mental Health Services (Toward Equity and Access DH 2005). The manner in which mental health issues manifest themselves for Deaf people present unique challenges in assessment including diagnosis, Risk Assessments and providing Care Plans.
St George Health Care Group provides a range of treatment and therapies, in culturally and linguistically approachable milieu. The service will provide specialist rehabilitative care and support for independent living enabling Deaf people to live in community settings subject to robust Risk Assessment Management.
Evidence and research with Deaf people with mental health needs has established:
- not enough resources are available to meet the current needs of individuals requiring intensive, structured rehabilitation programme.
- a lack of specialist forensic rehabilitation programmes in the NHS or other Independent sector providers.
- lack of placements in the social care sector
- few therapeutic or psychological services accessible to Deaf BSL users
- lack of a Clinically Managed Social Care model for independent living
- lack of integrated services for more challenging individuals
- resources and expertise are not available for complex and challenging individuals resulting in inappropriate placements
- a lack of knowledge and experience in local mental health services to undertake comprehensive assessment of the mental health needs of Deaf people
- misdiagnosis of Deaf people, with Mental Health Problems leading to inappropriate placements, treatment and/or prolonged detention
All Saints Hospital will attempt to address the above difficulties by providing holistic programmes of care and support for Deaf people with Mental Health needs, through a person centred approach to care delivery. The service will provide the Specialist clinical care within the framework of a Cultural model of Deafness, and a strong emphasis on Risk Management.
All Saints Hospital will provide an inclusive care service which has the expertise to provide high quality care for patients with complex and challenging needs in an appropriate environment. The Care Pathway will provide:
- Comprehensive and appropriate forensic assessment including Risk Assessment
- Rehabilitation and daily living skills
- Assessment of Challenging Behaviour
- A range of therapies and therapeutic programmes
- Intensive structured rehabilitation (low secure beds)
- Step down to Community Services
A multi-professional approach to care will focus on the needs of the individual and aim towards treatment and rehabilitation, with social inclusion as the ultimate goal.
The service delivery will encompass Therapeutic principles recognising the crucial role the community itself plays as an agent of change. Reflective practice is essential in developing and sustaining a 24 hour therapeutic milieu. Staff will be trained and work with therapeutic goals in mind and understand the crucial impact of their interactions with patients.
The physical environment has been designed and adapted to maximise the opportunities for learning and change; the interaction, attitude and commitment of staff complements the therapeutic environment through direct interaction with the patients.
Therapeutic services will be delivered in BSL and there is an expectation that staff will use BSL, to the best of their ability, at all times. The employment of Deaf staff is vital to the quality and development of the service and will add substantially to the therapeutic milieu, ensuring services remain focused around the developmental and communication needs of Deaf people. It is also expected that all staff will work within a therapeutic, anti discriminatory approach to all aspects of care.
