Inpatient Low Secure Unit

Team and Support

Francis Willis Unit aims to reduce risk and promote independence. The Unit philosophy is based on the principles of social inclusive. The Unit offers a range of therapeutic and treatment programmes. These are delivered by our multi disciplinary team of:

• Consultant Psychiatrist (RC) and Ward Doctor
• Psychologist
• Nurses and Healthcare Support Workers
• Social Worker
• Occupational Therapist
• Pharmacist
• Physical Healthcare Practitioners 
• Gym / Fitness Instructor
• Administration Staff 

We also provide access to:

• Advocates
• Dieticians
• GP
• Religious and Spiritual Staff 
• Community Mental Health Team

Patients have access to psycho-education and psychological therapies.  These include:   

• Mental Health Awareness  
• Substance Misuse 
• Problem solving and coping strategies
• Anxiety Management

We encourage patients to develop and/or maintain their "life skills". These will aid social inclusion, recovery and resettlement.  The staff support patients to participate in the following activities:

• Cookery, budgeting and resettlement courses.
• Leisure activities. These range from  arts and crafts, sports, cinema to visits to place of interest. 
• Vocational activities. Such as education, training and preparation for employment.
• Health education. Such as healthy lifestyle courses, exercise and smoking cessation.

Referral & Facilities

All patients admitted to the Francis Willis Unit are detained under the Mental Health Act. Referrals are only accepted from IMPACT. Patient assessment for admission is based on their level of: 

• Mental health need
• Physical security required to keep everyone safe 

On admission each patient will be allocated a Named Nurse and 2 Key Workers.  A risk assessment will be undertaken by the staff with each patient. Each patient will receive their own Care Plan and a therapeutic timetable. 

Facilities

Each patient is given their own private bedroom with television. Patients are encouraged to personalise their rooms. There are 15 individual rooms as well as communal living and dining facilities.   

Bathroom and shower facilities are shared. 

Patients have access to a large garden area and a smaller courtyard area.

Patients have supervised access to the following facilities:

• A well-equipped therapy kitchen, Laundry room
• Craft and arts room, games room, home cinema
• Gym, horticulture area and internet café

We encourage patients to maintain contact with their family and friends. Patients have access to a private telephone room on the ward.  

We welcome visitors to the ward by prior arrangement. Visits involving anyone under the age of 18 can be arranged through the ward Social Worker.  

We welcome visits from friendly pets on a lead.  Pets are only allowed in the garden area.    

Treatment and Care

Therapy and Treatment 

The Unit staff work with patients to create an individual agreed Care Plan. This Care Plan will be specific to that patient own needs.  The Care Plan will be reviewed monthly and updated by the patient's Named Nurse. All therapy and treatment offered is included in the Care Plan. The programme of therapies and treatments aims to address mental health problems.  Maintaining physical wellbeing is intrinsics to patient recovery.    

Core programmes cover:

• Mental illness and Associated distress
• Psychological Wellbeing and Trauma work
• Risk Reduction including offence related programmes
• Substance Misuse
• Relapse Prevention

Quality of Life programmes cover:

• Physical Health and Wellbeing
• Family and Relationships
• Life Skills
• Community Integration

CPA Meetings and Ward Rounds

The Unit uses a Care Programme Approach (CPA) to support patients. A CPA enables patients to receive the appropriate care and treatment through a coordinated process.     

An initial CPA review is held 3 months after admission.  Then CPAs are held every 6 months. These reviews involve the patient, relatives and all teams engaged with the patient. The purpose of the meeting is to review progress and agree next steps. Both internal and external teams are involved in CPA reviews. 

Ward Rounds are held for each patient every 3 weeks. This enables the multi disciplinary ward team to review the patient care. The patient's Named Nurse will talk to the patient to obtain their views, questions or requests they may have.  

Mental Health Act

All patients in this Unit are detained (sectioned) under the Mental Health Act.  The Unit staff will explain to patients their rights on admission. This process is repeated monthly, and at any time changes occur in treatment or section.       

Patients have the right to appeal against their detention. Patients have the right to independent legal representation for a review. Patients can request a review by either the: 

• Mental Health Act Managers, who are independent of the hospital, or 
• Mental Health Act Review Tribunal. 

An independent Advocacy Service is available to patients.  Unit staff can support to patients to access this service.  Unit Staff will support patients to attend any court proceedings, they are subject to.