Inpatient Low Secure Unit
Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust's Inpatient Low Secure Unit is called Francis Willis Unit. This Unit treats men with a mental illness who present with challenging and high risk behaviour. Placement in this secure environment is for their own and others protection.
This Inpatient Low Secure Service is commissioned by IMPACT, the East Midlands Provider Collaborative for Adult Secure Care. The Unit is located alongside other mental health services.
The Francis Willis Unit supports each person to be fully involved in their care and treatment. The Unit staff provide a relaxed and non-judgemental environment. Attention is given to the religious, cultural and ethnic preferences of the patients. This secure clinical setting aims to give patients:
- A high standard of care and treatment
- A safe and caring environment
- Reduction in the risk they posed to themselves and others
- Recovery
- Rehabilitation
- Opportunity to be place in a none secure environment
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.
Contact
Francis Willis UnitLincolnshire Partnership NHSFoundation Trust
Greetwell Road
Lincoln LN2 5UA
