Rhodes Place

18 - 65

3 - 5

Rhodes Place at a glance: Eight beds

For women aged 18 to 65 years (average age of 35)

Provides step down care for people who have a severe mental illness, significant forensic history, drug use, who are Ministry Of Justice restricted or who have been detained under the Mental Health Act

Three to five year care pathway Staffed by a skilled multi-disciplinary team, including a Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Nurses

Receives regular positive feedback from the Care Quality Commission about the homely environment

Since 2012, the unit has supported 100 per cent of service users to be discharged to places of lesser security

100%

• Drug and alcohol work

• Neuropsychological screening

• Pet and animal therapy

• Interventions to improve day-to-day living skills including:

• Washing and ironing

• Budgeting

• Shopping

• Cooking

• Self-care

• Group activities:

• Baking

• Music

• Art and craft

• Wellbeing

As part of their rehabilitation, service users are encouraged to get involved in community-based activities. These may be undertaken independently or escorted, depending on their recovery progress and could include:

• Leisure activities, such as gym or Zumba classes

• Library or college courses

• Work placements

• Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Addiction Dependency Solutions

During their stay, service users are encouraged and supported to pursue individual hobbies, such as painting. They also have plenty of free time, in which they can simply relax.

Family and friend involvement and support:

Family and friends play a valuable role in service users’ recovery and are welcome on the unit. In between visits, service users can keep in regular contact via Skype and phone.

Family and friends can often provide a valuable insight into the best ways to support recovery and may be invited to attend meetings and/or appointments with team members.

These meetings are also a good opportunity to hear about the support family and friends themselves may need, which can be provided by the team. For example, family interventions can be provided by the team psychologist, which can facilitate difficult conversations and help to overcome relationship difficulties.

About Rhodes PlaceRhodes Place is an 8-bed unit that opened in 2004 and is based in Oldham. It is part of Pennine Care’s Specialist Services’ Women’s Services and has a sister unit based in Tameside.

The unit is for women aged from 18 to 65 years, who have a diagnosed psychosis, for example schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, and have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The service users typically have a history of being difficult to engage with, poorly responsive to treatment and require a programme of treatment.

Some service users may also have post-traumatic disorders, personality difficulties, significant attachment disorders, a secondary personality disorder, a history of illicit substance abuse, or have an index offence and be subject to a treatment and/or detention order by the Ministry of Justice.

The unit offers a three to five year pathway of care and service users are typically discharged into supported living accommodation or independent living with a care package in place.

In 2013, the team at Rhodes Place was awarded Pennine Care’s Principles of Care Award for their commitment to going the extra mile to provide high quality services.

Supporting recoveryThe staff aim to work in partnership with the service user and their family, to develop a care plan that enables them to function to the best of their ability in a community setting. Each service user has a dedicated named nurse and occupational therapist and an allocated consultant psychiatrist.

The staff work hard to encourage and support service users to reach their full potential and optimum level of independence and to facilitate self-empowerment. The staff are committed to delivering a non-judgmental and accepting approach to care and to valuing the service user for her worth, which supports greater self-esteem.

The team adopts a recovery approach to treatment, based on collaborative goal setting and optimising wellness and functioning. Goals are patient-centred and patient-led and are reviewed through multi-disciplinary team working.

More specifically, the unit offers:

• Pharmacological treatment (medication)

• Psychological therapies including:

• Psycho education

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

• Cognitive Analytic Therapy

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (one-to-one or group sessions)

• Mindfulness

• Brief Family Therapy

The environmentEach service user has their own en-suite bathroom and bedroom, which is equipped with a TV point and built-in wardrobe.

Service users are encouraged to bring along personal items to help them to feel at home, for example duvet and pillow covers, photos, books, soft toys etc. Please note that some items are not permitted on the unit to ensure service users’ health and safety and staff can advise about this prior to admission.

The unit has a range of communal areas, such as lounges, a dining area, kitchen and garden areas, which provide opportunities for social interaction and peer support. All areas of the unit are kept clean, tidy, safe and comfortable and the team welcomes any feedback on the environment.

A new garden area has been created at the side of the unit, which has its own entrance. The staff work hard to provide a homely environment for service users, which has been highlighted by the Care Quality Commission. The unit is in a quiet area of the borough, but it is only a five minute walk to the local village and a ten minute bus ride to the town centre.

The teamThe unit is staffed by an experienced, knowledgeable and skilled multi-disciplinary clinical team and range of support staff, who provide round-the clock-care. The team includes:

• A Consultant Psychiatrist

• A Unit Manager

• A Charge Nurse

• Staff Nurses

• Nursing Assistants

• Unit Administrators

• Occupational Therapists

• A Technical Instructor

• Psychologists

• A Dietician

This small and consistent team of staff supports service users to feel secure.

To support service users’ wider health and wellbeing needs, the team works with a range of partners including GPs, community health professionals and others.

Staff training and education:All staff are required to undertake a package of mandatory training before starting employment. Topics include adult safeguarding, conflict resolution, managing challenging behaviour, violence and aggression, movement and handling, equality and diversity and infection prevention and control. There is a requirement that all topics are refreshed at regular intervals.

In addition to mandatory training, all members of staff are actively encouraged undertake further training that will be helpful to their role for example substance abuse, self-harm and prevention of suicide training.

Each member of the team receives line management and clinical supervision. These forums provide opportunities to review and discuss strengths, concerns and areas for development and allow team members to be kept up to date with service developments and best practice guidelines. This ensures they can deliver the best possible care to service users.

Outcomes and feedbackSince 2012, the unit has supported 100 per cent of service users to be discharged to places of lesser security.

The feedback from service users is very positive and comments include:

“I felt safe at Rhodes place and for the first time I was able to make my mental health a priority. I am now living in the community and feel like I can stay out of hospital now and keep myself well.”

Referral informationReferrals are accepted for service users who live within the Pennine Care footprint, which includes Bury, Oldham, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop and Trafford.

Referrals are typically received from acute psychiatric wards, private sector units and units with a higher level of security.

To discuss a referral please contact the Clinical Pathway Team on 0161 716 4364.

In my own words… a service user’s journeyAround three years ago I found I was unable to cope on my own as I had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs on a daily basis. I felt low, depressed and, at times, psychotic.

I came to the unit after being an inpatient on an acute mental health ward. I was referred to Rhodes Place because I didn’t feel I was ready to live on my own in the community and I needed additional help and support from staff.

While at the unit I have received DBT which has helped me to manage when I feel down. I feel the medication which I take regularly has helped my mood. I have also received support from the staff here. Talking with them about my problems has taught me better ways to cope.

Now my mood has lifted I can enjoy things much more. I enjoy spending time out in the community and I love to go shopping to buy new clothes and shoes.

I have recently taken on a part-time job which has given me a sense of purpose; it also motivates me and has helped to build my confidence.

I would like to reassure new patients that the unit will help them to get better. The staff will help you to recover from drugs and alcohol and they will give you lots of support to live independently in the future.

“I would like to reassure new patients that the unit will help them to get better.

The staff will help you to recover from drugs and alcohol and they

will give you lots of support to live independently in the future.”

Contact usFor further information about Rhodes Place, please phone 0161 621 2751.

Rhodes Place, Lees New Road, Oldham, OL4 5PP.

Date of publication: September 2015 | Reference: 4004/Rhodes Place Brochure | © Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust