Learning Disability - medium secure

A specialist medium secure service for men with a learning disability and forensic and complex behaviour.

With a therapy ethos based on Positive Behavioural Support, Sycamore unit provides assessment, stabilisation and treatment for highly complex men who require a medium secure environment.

Supporting the Transforming Care agenda, we treat patients with dignity and respect, taking into account their personal, diverse needs. Care is delivered in the most suitable and least restrictive environment to address clinical needs and risk.

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Admissions criteria

Sycamore accepts men aged 18 years and over with a learning disability.

Patients may also have a co-morbid needs:

ADHD
autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) or suspected ASD
mental illness
Personality Disorder
Complex PTSD
Developmental trauma
Bipolar disorder
Engage in risk behaviours that could attract a conviction and are complex.

Due to their level of risk, patients would meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, including those on restricted sections.

These criteria are a guide for assessing suitability. Each patient will be individually assessed by our dedicated team.

A positive approach

Our learning disability pathway uses RAID (Reinforce Appropriate (behaviour) Implode Difficult or Disruptive (behaviour)) methodology as its approach to delivering Positive Behavioural Support.

Through a genuinely positive philosophy, RAID helps deliver sustained change by focusing on positive aspects of the patient’s behaviour which will ultimately overcome and displace any challenging behaviour.

Comprehensive assessments are conducted at the point of admission which assess Neuropsychological functioning, communication, sensory and co-morbid conditions.

Treatment is in three phases; 1. stabilisation in order to develop appropriate coping skills, 2. exploration of offending and past trauma, 3. building resilience, relapse prevention and promoting rehabilitation and recovery.

Stabilisation

During stabilisation, interventions may include:

CBT
Mindfulness
improving social skills
managing anxiety.

The exploration of offending and past trauma may include:

substance misuse
violence reduction
sexual offending
fire setting.

The relapse prevention phase will focus on:

on-going risk assessments
maintaining mindfulness
maintaining relaxation.

Led by experts in the field of LD our services are delivered by on-site multi-disciplinary teams with extensive skills and experience of working with individuals who have LD and complex presentations.

The therapeutic environment is safe and consistent, with a structured, routine programme.

Moving on

Our aim is to providing care in the most suitable and least restrictive environment, supporting transitions to the community. Discharge is considered at admission and our clinical and social work teams work with appropriate case managers and home area teams to facilitate these moves.