Neuro Rapid Response for people in crisis

We offer rapid assessment for people with a brain injury or progressive neurological disorder (including but not limited to dementia or Huntington's disease) whose behavioural presentation and/or cognitive function has deteriorated to an acute stage, proving difficult to manage in their home or their community setting.

Our specialist MDT provide short-term stabilisation and intensive therapy in a safe environment, facilitating a person's return to community once the crisis period has subsided.

Make a referral

Phone 0800 434 6690

Our Neuro Rapid Response bed status

Our Neurobehavioural Rapid Response service offering short-term stabilisation, admission and assessment for people with a brain injury or PNC has one male bed available today. To discuss a Rapid Response referral please scroll down this page for the specific contact details.

Male or Female Northampton (Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm) - Telephone: 0800 434 6690 Email: admissions@standrew.co.uk

Male or Female Northampton (Out of office hours) - Please contact the relevant ward directly:

Tallis - Male Brain Injury - 01604 616497 Elgar - Female Brain Injury - 01604 616301
Aspen - Male Dementia - 01604 616457 Walton - Male Huntington's disease - 01604 616357
Cherry - Female Dementia / Huntington's disease - 01604 616659

How we can support your patient

People with an acquired brain injury or those with progressive neurological disorders, such as dementia or Huntington's disease (HD) can experience periods of challenging behavioural disturbance as a result of their condition, posing a risk to themselves or others. This might include aggressive episodes, behaviours that challenge services, non-compliance or inappropriate sexualised behaviour.

If a person's agitated presentation is increasing the level of supervision and care required to support them in their existing acute or community setting, we can offer a short-term placement where our expert MDT and bespoke environments help patients transform behaviours that challenge into renewed hope and engagement.

We work with the person's existing clinical team to ensure that an in-patient stay only lasts the length of the crisis period and support teams to continue caring for the person in their home or community setting as soon as possible, with a revised care plan and following a full medical review.

Our Neuro Rapid Response service is part of our specialist neuropsychiatric service based for over 40 years at Kemsley neurobehavioural unit.

Based at our Northampton site, our neuropsychiatric service means that patients have access to over 140 acres of green space, onsite cafes and recreational and vocational facilities.

Admission criteria

We can support people with:

Acquired brain injury (including those with organic brain injury)

Progressive neurological conditions (including but not limited to complex dementia and Huntington's disease).

People admitted will be displaying behavioural difficulties/disturbances that compromise their own safety or that of others and which cannot be safely managed or treated in their current setting. They may also be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007).

We rapidly respond to the needs of your patient

Our Neuro Rapid Response service is able to quickly support people in crisis. We are:

A service that quickly admits patients in to a safe environment.
Proven in our ability to reduce behaviours that challenge and support those with cognitive decline.
We provide a full holistic health assessment from an extensive, full-time multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who tailor and adapt care packages to encourage positive life experiences.
Expert neuropsychiatric input to determine the correct medication and treatment plans.
Gender-specific units offering, where needed, a high level of observation and
supervision.
Certified intervention strategies to reduce aggression, including RAID® and Dementia Care Mapping (DCM).
Therapeutic environments including multi-sensory gardens, low stimulus and de-escalation areas, and high dependency bedrooms.

How the service works

• Referrals made will be assessed and an admission decision will be made within 24 hours during a working weekday.

• Referrals received out of working weekday hours will be reviewed on the next available working day.

• Admissions are typically completed within 24 hours where clinically appropriate.

Additional enhanced support remains chargeable where provided.

Providing expert care at challenging times

We believe in a whole-person approach, integrating physical and mental healthcare. We are able to support the unique requirements of people with brain injuries or PNC who are experiencing acute phrases of mental illness and offer high quality care from our extensive, on-site MDT.

Patients can expect to access a full range of therapeutic, social and physical health services. We utilise proven assessment tools including MOAS, SASBA and FIM+FAM to measure behaviour and cognitive function, and seek innovative ways to engage patients in vocational activities across our campus set in 135 acres of inspiring green space.

At St Andrew’s we have a proven track record of transforming behaviours that challenge into patient engagement, with the expertise and environment required to manage complex behavioural needs following a brain injury or PNC.

Reinforce Appropriate, Implode Disruptive (RAID®)

We use a RAID® informed approach to care, delivered by our integrated service. Our MDT are enhanced by:

Nursing teams consisting of both RMNs and RGNs
Dedicated nurse practitioner
Paramedic practitioner
OT, Psychology, SaLT, Physio
Dietetics and Medical staff.

RAIDing gives a relentlessly positive philosophy for working with extreme behaviour and is especially relevant to working in secure and semi-secure environments. RAIDing provides a positive approach to be proud of, developing appropriate ‘green’ behaviour so that it simply overwhelms the problem behaviours in question.

Importantly though, RAIDing also tells you what to do when problem behaviour happens. St Andrew’s was the first UK healthcare provider to achieve the RAID® Centre of Excellence Award from the Association of Psychological Therapies (APT), reflecting the quality of provision for patients within our neuropsychiatry service. For more information on RAID® visit www.raid.co.uk.

Support for carers, family and friends

The therapeutic value of regular engagement with family and friends can be key to a person’s recovery and thankfully we are now able to welcome family and carers back on site.

We know that being a relative, carer or friend of someone who has been admitted onto one of our crisis service wards can be worrying and stressful and our Carers team is here to provide emotional support and help with issues such as health and money. Our Carers Centre can be contacted on 01604 616125, and a support line is available Monday to Friday, visit our carers pages for more information.
For family visiting our Northampton site, St Andrew's are able to offer accommodation locally to aid your support of a loved on in our crisis services. Please discuss this with the ward to arrange.