Ward 12

About Ward 12

The ward aims to provide a holistic approach to treatment and care. This is done by getting to know patients as individuals, meeting their acute mental health and physical health care needs.

The ward provides short-term urgent care that cannot currently be provided within a community setting.We will:

• listen to your views about what you need.
• enable you to make choices to regain control of your life.
• treat you with respect, dignity and compassion.
• recognise the role of your carers.
• respect your culture, spirituality, life experiences and values.

Coming into hospital

When you first arrive you will be welcomed by a nurse who will explain the admission process. The team is here to help you. We will show you around the ward and introduce you to everyone else.

If you have had to come into hospital suddenly, there may be things you need to sort out, or people you may want to contact. We are happy to help you with this.

Planning your care

Your care will be provided by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and other professionals.

Your named nurse will work with you to complete a full assessment of your needs and together you will make a plan of your care. You will be offered a copy of this document.

Reviewing your care

Each week you will be invited to meet with the team to review your care. This is called a Ward Round or CPA Review. If you wish, you can invite your carer, a family member, advocate or friend to attend with you.

At all times your needs and views are central to working towards your discharge. Your care follows the Care Programme Approach (CPA) process. This is a national system for delivery of care in mental health. The CPA process will ensure your follow up arrangements will continue to meet your health and social care needs. If you would like to know more about CPA, we can provide you with more information.

Going on leave

Part of your care process may be having short periods of home leave. This will only happen if your mental health has improved and is usually near to your discharge. Please be aware that when you return from home leave you may be given a different bedroom. The staff will discuss this with you and try to make the disruption as minimal as possible.

Discharge

As soon as you are well enough you will be discharged from hospital and offered care in the community. The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment team (CRHT) supports service users in returning to their home environment. A referral to this team can be made via your named nurse or multidisciplinary team.

The CRHT also has access to a Crisis House which may be appropriate for your care before returning home. If you already work with a member of the community team, we encourage you to still be involved with them throughout your stay.

Day to day

The nursing team change shift three times a day:

• early morning
• after lunchtime
• late evening.

The names of the staff working on each shift are posted on the ward notice board. As the new shift starts, there is a handover meeting to ensure information about the care and needs of each person on the ward is passed on.

The team will tell you about activities and groups that are planned for each shift. This information is also on the ward notice board.

Staff who may be involved in your care

There are a lot of people on the ward to help you. This is called the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). All staff will be wearing an identity badge.

The Team consists of following people:

Ward Manager

This is the most senior nurse on the ward. They are responsible and accountable for the care provided by all the staff that you meet. You can discuss any issues you may have about your care with the ward manager.

Named Nurse

Soon after your admission you will be introduced to your named nurse. During your stay, this person will be responsible for coordinating your care. They will discuss your care plans and progress with you at regular intervals.

Associate Nurse

The associate nurse, who may be a nursing assistant, will also provide you with extra support.

Consultant Psychiatrist

The consultant psychiatrist is the most senior doctor and has overall responsibility for decisions made with you about your treatment, leave and discharge.

Discharge Liaison Worker

The discharge liaison worker will help you and the team with arrangements for your discharge.

Occupational Therapists

The ward has an occupational therapy team who will work with you to help you achieve or maintain as much independence as possible in all areas of every day life.

Activity Coordinator

The activity coordinator provides a range of interesting activities for you to take part in. Details of activities can be found on the ward notice boards.

Care Coordinator

You may already have a care coordinator, or you may be referred to a care coordinator by the ward team. This is usually a community member of staff who will be responsible for coordinating the care provided to you both when you are in hospital and at home.

Matron

Ward 12 has one matron who is responsible for making sure you are looked after well and that any problems are dealt with properly and promptly. This will be in a way that is consistent with the Trust’s values.

Physiotherapy Assistant

If you are interested in using the gym/exercise facilities, the physiotherapy assistant will design a fitness programme with you.

Students on the ward

Students regularly spend time on the ward and are supervised by fully qualified team members. You may be asked if you are happy for a student to provide your treatment. You have the right to say no and we fully respect this. Your decision will not affect the quality or level of care you receive.

Research and improvement projects

Research and improvement projects help to develop future care and treatment. Please let us know if you would like to take part in these. Any involvement will only happen with your permission.

Audits

Audits are carried out from time to time and you may be asked for your opinion on the care and treatment you have received from our team. You are encouraged to talk freely.

What do you need to bring to the ward?

Examples of what to bring:

• Comfortable clothes
• Nightwear
• Toiletries
• Small amount of money – it is also useful to have a small amount of change for the payphone.
• Magazine, puzzles, photos & games
• Laundry powder or liquid
• Personal stereos with earphones – don’t forget batteries if necessary.
• Prescribed medication – please hand to a member of staff and inform them of any known medical conditions.

There is limited storage space on the ward so please do not bring too many belongings.

Electrical Equipment

Any electrical equipment brought onto the ward has to be checked over by a member of our estates department for safety purposes.

Mobile Phones

You are discouraged from bringing your mobile phone to the ward. There may be risk of loss/theft. There are also issues regarding confidentiality.

Mobile phones are allowed on the ward. If used inappropriately, use will be restricted via your Care Plan.

Please do not bring: 

• Valuables and/or jewellery.
• Televisions, music stereos.
• Alcohol and/or illicit substances.
• Dangerous and/or sharp objects.
• Vehicles - Please be aware that vehicles parked on the hospital site are subject to parking costs and possible clamping. At the time of your admission there may be reasons why it is not advisable for you to drive. If you intend to drive, please discuss this with your doctor or a member of staff.

We provide:

• Towels
• Laundry room facilities
• Public pay phone
• Daily newspaper
• Internet access (part of occupational therapy programme)

If you have forgotten anything, please speak to a member of our team, as we do have a small supply of emergency items.

Additional information

All service users are responsible for their own possessions. Bed bay furniture is lockable. We also provide a separate secure place to keep small sums of money, razors and nail clippers safe.

We cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal property, including money, unless you have been given an official receipt by the Trust.

Meal times

Meals are served in the dining room.

Meal times are:

• Breakfast: 8am
• Lunch: mid-day
• Dinner: 5pm
• Supper: 9pm

Hot drinks are available outside meal times in the dining room.

There is a restaurant, café and shop within the hospital site, where refreshments are also available.

Cold drinks are available, on the ward, 24 hours a day.

Your nutritional needs will be assessed on admission, and we will take into account your dietary and cultural needs to provide a balanced diet.

• We will offer you:
  • a choice of dishes to suit your individual dietary needs.
  • a choice of portion sizes.
  • we will regularly ask you for your opinions about our menus.

Amenities nearby

At front of the main hospital there is a newsagents with a cash point. If the newsagent does not stock an item you need, our team may be able to get it for you.

There is also a post box and a hairdressers.

Money issues

During your stay you may experience difficulty in accessing money and/or paying bills You may require a sickness certificate or advice about your benefits while you are in hospital.

If you have any concerns about money issues, please speak to a member of the team who will help you get the most appropriate advice.

Visiting times

Your friends, relatives and carers are welcome to visit you at the following times

• Monday to Friday – 6pm to 8.30pm
• Saturday and Sunday – 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8.30pm

We would ask that your visitors report to a member of the nursing team on arrival so that a room for your visit may be arranged.

In certain circumstances, other visiting times may be arranged – please speak to a member of staff.

Children visiting

Arrangements can be made for families who wish to visit with children and there is a family room available. This should be pre-arranged with nursing staff.

Privacy and dignity

Maintaining your privacy and dignity on the ward is our priority. Ward 12 is a mixed gender ward, however, we provide gender specific areas eg. bed areas and lounges. You will be allocated a specific bed bay or a side room for which you will have a bracelet which offers access to these rooms only. You can ask to be cared for by a named nurse of the same gender and every effort will be made to meet your request.

Confidentiality and information sharing

All information related to you and your treatment is considered confidential. All of our staff are required to abide by a code of confidentiality. They will only share the minimal amount of necessary information about you, with those who need to know, in order to ensure good quality care.

You will be asked which members of your family and carers you wish for information to be shared with.

Access to your records

You have a right to see your records so if you wish to view them, please speak to a member of staff. Please be aware there will be a charge for this service.

Observations and you

Observations

To ensure your safety on the ward, staff will monitor you as part of your assessment and care plan. Your observation level will be discussed with you and will increase, or decrease, dependent upon your needs.

Health and Safety

In cases of emergency there is a nurse call system in every patient area. You may also a hear an alarm sounding which staff use to call for assistance. The fire alarm is tested every week (more information is available on the notice boards).

Other information

General patient areas are monitored through CCTV system. To maintain a safe environment the consumption of alcohol and illicit substances is not allowed on the ward. If you need assistance regarding alcohol or drug use, please talk to your named nurse, as specialist help is available.

Prevention and management of violence and aggression

We are committed to providing a safe and pleasant environment for everyone on the ward. Being in hospital can be very frightening and we will do all we can to help you to feel safe. Please tell a member of the team if you feel worried or unsafe, or if you are concerned about anyone else on the ward.

There may be occasions when safety is compromised and someone acts in a manner that puts themselves, or others, at risk. In these circumstances staff will take appropriate action to reduce risk.

No smoking policy

As an NHS service we are concerned about the risks of smoking to general health. For this reason, and to comply with the law, we do not allow smoking on the ward.

There is a designated area outside where people are allowed to smoke. E-cigarettes are permitted in the designated areas. Please ask staff for further information.

If you would like to think about giving up smoking, please see your named nurse about this who will refer you to the relevant service.

Cleanliness

We have an excellent team of housekeepers and a cleanliness charter has been adopted. This charter sets out our commitment to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness.

You can help us keep the ward as clean as possible by:

• Letting the staff know if you see any areas of concern.
• Doing your part to prevent the spread of infection by washing your hands regularly, especially before mealtimes. Please feel free to use the hand sanitizer gel on the ward.
• Leaving the toilets and bathrooms as you would wish to find them.
• Keeping your room tidy.
• Returning any borrowed items once you have finished with them.

Community meeting

Community meetings are an informal and friendly way for you to meet with other patients and make suggestions for improvements on the ward, or express any concerns you may have. They are held every morning in the dining room.

You can find out more information about this meeting on the ward notice board. There is a you said this, we did this section on the notice board which gives you feedback for items discussed at the meeting.

Occupational therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapy supports individuals to do the things they need to do to manage with everyday life and the things they want to do to lead meaningful lives.

Occupational Therapists use specific activities to help with recovery and to address any difficulties arising from physical and mental health problems or conditions.

Being involved in meaningful activity or occupation can improve confidence, wellbeing and health.

Having a balanced routine and meaningful things to do can increase the ability to manage and enjoy everyday life.

The programme of activities will allow you to:

• maintain and develop everyday skills such as cooking and shopping.
• increase your activity levels and provide structure and routine to your day.
• socialise and feel more comfortable around others.
• increase your self-esteem, self-confidence and motivation.
• express your creativity.
• explore opportunities in the community in preparation for discharge.

Occupational therapy offers access to:

• meeting room
• activities room
• kitchen
• gardening area.
• computers
• resource rooms

Group activities are also available.

Some activities take place away from the ward. Please have a look at the notice boards on the ward, for information about what is available. You will meet a member of the occupational therapy team shortly after your admission.

We have some supplies of books, DVDs, games and craft materials. Please ask any member of the team if you would like to use any of these.

Physiotherapy and gym

There is a gym with a range of exercise equipment available for use. Before you use the gym you will have an assessment with the physiotherapy assistant and an exercise programme will be designed to meet your needs. Please let a member of staff know if you are interested in using the gym.

Language and communication

We can offer information and an interpretation service for people whose first language is not English. If you are partially sighted, hard of hearing or have problems with reading, we can give you information in a format you find acceptable. Please ask the team for any help you need.