New ways of delivering learning disability services see results

Our secure learning disabilities services have made huge strides forward in helping people recover more quickly.

The last 18 months have seen a significant shift in the way care is delivered. Bringing different units together has been at the heart the approach, better enabling people in our care to build relationships and share experiences.

The medium secure units in Newton Lodge now work much more closely with the low secure unit, Newhaven. Staff move around more frequently, meaning they’re more familiar with the pathway and frequent visits between units mean transitions for service users are much easier. Crucially, service users themselves are now heavily involved with their own care planning and risk assessments which gives them greater control and ownership of their treatment and recovery.

There have been a variety of creative and social activities run across the service, including a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, sporting events and a summer festival. This has given people the chance to engage in enjoyable, calming activities as well as providing an opportunity to collaborate and build relationships. These are key skills needed for ordinary daily life.

Director for forensic and specialist services Carol Harris said: “Taking a more collaborative, joined up approach both between staff and with service users means we’re seeing people make far better progress through their treatment programmes. They’re also ready to make the transition from medium to low secure services at an earlier stage and that transition takes place much more smoothly. We now have a real culture of innovation within our forensic services which is seeing positive results for the people in our care.”