St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex

Specialist mental healthcare delivered with compassion and expertise

Located in North Benfleet, Essex, St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex is a 78-bed hospital offering specialist Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and acute services for men and women, and low secure and rehabilitation services for men. We support people with complex mental health needs, including those with personality disorders, forensic histories or who are currently within the criminal justice system.

Our hospital offers a safe, therapeutic environment where care is delivered by experienced multidisciplinary teams, focused on stabilisation, recovery, and progression to less restrictive settings.

We are proud to be rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with inspectors highlighting the kindness, compassion, and professionalism of our staff.

Essex CQC rating and report

If you need a PICU or acute placement at our Essex hospital for someone experiencing a mental health crisis, our referrals team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

View bed availability Make a referral

Our services

Overview

PICU and acute

34 beds male, 12 beds female

Low secure

16 beds male

Rehabilitation

16 beds male

At Essex, we provide a range of specialist services tailored to individual needs, ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right environment.

Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU)

Our PICU service supports adult males who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis and need more intensive support in a highly structured environment.

Audley ward (Male PICU)

PICU care focuses on:

Specialist assessment and support
Close monitoring and care
Intensive therapeutic input
A focus on reducing distress and risk prior to step-down

Acute Mental Health Services

Our acute services provide short-term inpatient care for individuals who need support to manage and stabilise their mental health.

Benfleet ward (Male Acute)
Frinton ward (Female Acute)

These services focus on:

Assessment and treatment
Medication support
Access to therapies and structured activities
Planning for next steps in recovery

Specialist Mental health and Personality Disorder Services

We also provide more specialised support for individuals with complex emotional and psychological needs, including those with forensic histories or in the criminal justice system.

Danbury ward (Male Low Secure)
Tiptree ward (Male Rehabilitation)

These services offer:

Trauma-informed care
Structured therapeutic programmes
Emotional regulation and coping strategies
Long-term recovery support

Our approach to care

At St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex, care is built around the individual. We understand that every patient’s journey is different, and our approach reflects that.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT)

Each patient is supported by a highly skilled team including:

Psychiatrists (incl. Forensic)
Psychologists (incl. Forensic)
Specialist mental health nurses
Occupational therapists
Technical instructors
Social workers
Support workers

With access to additional on-site services including on-site physical healthcare nurses, dieticians, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and general practitioners.

This collaborative approach ensures care is holistic, consistent, and tailored.

Supportive ward environments

Our ward environments follow Safewards principles to offer calm and safe environments.

Key features include:

Private single en-suite bedrooms
Calm and sensory rooms
Communal lounges and therapy rooms
Dedicated activity and fitness areas

Therapeutic environment

We provide a safe, structured, and supportive setting where patients can focus on recovery and personal development.

Key features include:

Purpose-built therapeutic spaces
Access to meaningful activities and therapies
Health and wellbeing programmes
Structured daily routines
Opportunities to build independence

Recovery-focused care

Our goal is always progression. From admission, we work with patients and referrers to plan the next steps in their pathway.

This includes:

Clear care planning and goal setting
Regular MDT reviews
Family and Carer involvement
Close collaboration with commissioners and community teams
Focus on step-down and discharge from the outset

Reasons to choose St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex

Rated ‘Good’ by the CQC
Experienced and compassionate clinical teams
Specialist pathways for complex mental health and forensic needs
Strong focus on recovery and progression
Collaborative working with referrers and families

Patient and carer FAQs

What happens on admission?

Patients receive a comprehensive assessment from the multidisciplinary team to understand their needs and develop an individualised care plan.

Can families stay involved?

Yes. We actively encourage family and carer involvement (with patient consent) and provide regular updates and opportunities to be part of care planning. We encourage you to visit to support a person’s recovery. Visiting arrangements will be explained by the ward team.

What therapies are available?

Patients may access a range of interventions including:

Psychological therapies
Occupational therapy
Group programmes
Medication management

How long do patients stay?

Length of stay varies depending on individual needs, but our focus is always on supporting timely and safe progression.

How is safety managed?

All wards provide a safe, structured environment with trained staff available 24/7, alongside clear risk management processes.

What happens after discharge?

We work closely with community services and professionals to ensure a safe and supported transition out of hospital.

Referrals and admissions

We work closely with commissioners, case managers, and clinical teams to ensure smooth and timely admissions. Our dedicated referrals team can respond to your referral quickly and guide you through the process, with regular communication at every step.

For referral information click here.

About the local area

St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex is located in a peaceful setting, providing a calm and therapeutic environment while remaining accessible for visitors and professionals.

Address: St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex, Pound Lane, North Benfleet, Essex, SS12 9JP.

Local facilities

Bus stop outside hospital direct to town
Mayflower Shopping Retail Park
New Life Wood social enterprise
Craft Shed
Rushley Park
Basildon swimming pool
Vue Cinema
Southend on Sea

Transport

St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex is accessible by car, train or bus
Nearest train station is Wickford which is a 10-minute taxi drive away
NIBS Buses Route 21 stops directly outside the hospital
Free car parking is available on-site

Accommodation

Limited accommodation is available on-site for family and carers
Premier Inn, Travelodge and Holiday Inn all have hotels locally