Mitford Unit is an autism inpatient service for adults who are on the autism spectrum, who have extremely complex needs and display challenging behaviours to the extent that their needs cannot be met by local assessment and treatment services. The service also provides diversion for individuals who have been inappropriately placed within secure services.
Mitford inpatient service is for adults who are on the autism spectrum, who have extremely complex needs and display challenging behaviours to the extent that their needs cannot be met by local assessment and treatment services.
The service also provides diversion for individuals who have been inappropriately placed within secure services.
Mitford has been specifically designed to allow for highly individual environmental adaptations to reduce anxiety and positively impact on challenging behaviours.
- Adults aged 18+ years
- Male and Females
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Complex difficulties associated with ASD
The following will be required prior to admission:
- Clear agreement with Commissioners re funding
- Clear assessment and treatment task
- Clear exit route
- Consideration of patient mix within Mitford Unit
Exclusions
The service is not suitable for individuals under the age of 18 years. Individuals for whom autism is not the primary disability condition
Mitford Unit incorporate a large number of design features to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum and enables patients and staff to adapt the environment to individual needs with minimal change and reduce the possibility of challenging behaviours.
Features in Mitford include:
- Single and shared living areas with option to create low / high stimulus environments
- Precise temperature control allowing for rapidcooling or heating within each living area
- Corridors that are non-threatening with curvedwalls and seating areas throughout to aidtransition around the unit
- Doors and units that can be hidden into walls when necessary to create smooth lines and reduce anxiety
- High ceilings which provide feeling of space as well as diffusing sound and light
- Sound-proof living areas to help reduce noise sensitivity
- Use of latest digital technology that allows patients to attend CPA meetings via Skype from their individual living areas
Facilities include:
- Single person living areas with access to private garden area
- Shared living areas with access to shared garden area
- Bedrooms all with en-suite
- Activity, therapy and sensory rooms
- Kitchen and Laundry
- Treatment room
- Sanctuary and quiet space
The multidisciplinary team provides bespoke specialist assessment and patient centred treatment and includes:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Music, Art and Dance Therapy
- Exercise Therapy
Treatment Phase focuses on:
- Treatment of co-morbid conditions
- Amelioration of effects of autism e.g. lowering excessive levels of anxiety and arousal
- Development of independent living skills
- Development of effective support strategies
- Transferrable skills to support discharge planning
Our Clinical Model is time limited incorporating detailed pre-and post-admission assessment, evaluation and treatment of needs, specification of community provision and detailed discharge planning. The time scales are constructed to ensure that momentum to return individuals to their home community is not lost and that lengthy hospital stays are avoided.
Referrals are accepted from community and inpatient learning disability and mental health teams regionally and nationally.
Assessments are undertaken on a multi-disciplinary basis with team composition dependent upon the needs of the patient and referring service.
If you would like to make a referral or for more information please contact us:
Mitford, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Northgate Hospital Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3BP.
Telephone: 0191 245 6790
Referral email: NTAWNT.autism@