The Allington Centre
The Allington Centre is a 20 bed low secure inpatient service for forensic services. We specialise in the assessment and treatment of adults with complex mental health needs, who require care in a low secure setting, in response to offending, risky and/or challenging behaviours.
The ward includes a low stimulus area of five beds for the assessment and treatment of those exhibiting disturbed behaviour. There is an additional 15 bedded area that focuses on assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
Patients are admitted to the area considered to be best suited to meet their current need. All rooms are en-suite and have provision for wheelchair users.
Our large multidisciplinary team consists of Consultants/Responsible Clinicians, Health Care Assistants, Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Technicians, Speech and Language Therapist, Psychologists, Social workers, a Peer Support Worker, Speciality Doctors, and a Family Engagement and Liaison Lead.
Care and treatment is designed on an individual basis and we encourage the involvement of our patients, their relatives and carers in the decision making process as much as possible.
Family Engagement and Liaison Lead
The Family Engagement and Liaison Lead (FELL) works specifically with the families, friends and carers of those accessing the Forensic Mental Health & Learning Disability Services. The FELL will be able to offer you information, signposting and support in relation to your loved one’s stay. They will also be able to give you time to talk about your own concerns and questions.
Click her to view more details about the The Family Engagement and Liaison Lead
Arrangements for under 18’s to visit
We understand that child visits can be important for both the patient and the child concerned and will work with you to facilitate this, where possible. Before child visits can be take place, the social work team must be contacted and all people holding parental responsibility for the child will be required to give written consent for the visit to take place.
Social Services will also be contacted to check that there are no specific concerns about the child that may affect whether they can visit. We will work as quickly as possible to ensure these checks take place in a timely manner.
No-one under the age of 18 can enter the unit/ward; however, we do have a dedicated family visiting room on site which can be booked. Once agreed by the Social Work Team, the child visits must be pre-booked to ensure the child visiting facility is available. During the visit a member of staff may be in the room with you or observing the visit from outside the room.
Additionally, there is an internet-based system which allows you to call family and friends anywhere in the world, over the internet, for free. If you would like to use this system it can be discussed with the team and booked through nursing staff with a convenient date and time.
Items Not Allowed on The Unit
Before your visit, take a look at our list of monitored and prohibited items.
A monitored item is anything that must be stored in a secure location because it could be harmful if used inappropriately. The patient can use a monitored item by first asking the staff for that item. After the patient is finished using the item, it is important that the item be given back to a staff person so that it can be put back in its safe location again.
Here are the monitored items for forensic patients:
- Drink Cans
- Aerosol Cans
- Nail files/Nail Clippers
- Tweezers
- Cosmetics
- Electric Razors
- Hair straighteners
- Hair Dryers
- Scissors (Arts/Crafts or other types)
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Belts
- Drawstrings
- Bags with shoulder straps
- Laces
- Electrical Flexes
- Power Cables
Here are the prohibited items for forensic patients:
- Firearms or Weapons
- Knives or Sharp Items
- Petrol or flammable items
- Lighters
- Matches
- Prescription/Illegal Drugs
- Alcohol/Alcohol
- Alcohol Free Stimulant Drinks or Legal Highs
- Glass
- Plastic Bags
- Camera, Video or any recording equipment
- Copied CD’s/DVDs
- Laptops
- Mobile
- Phones/Smart Watches
- Nail polish
- Nail polish remover
- Hand Sanitizer
- Alcohol Mouthwash
- Pins
- Needles (Sewing, Knitting etc.)
- Glue/Solvents
- Medications
Meet the manager
Your feedback is important to the team so that we can continue to improve our services; please send your comments, suggestions or arrange a meeting to:
Akintayo Sowole - Akintayo.Sowole@nhs.net
Our Visiting Hours:
Monday – Friday from 6:30 – 7:30pm
Weekends and public holidays: 10:00am to 12:00noon, 2:00 – 5:00pm and 6.30-7.30pm
All visits must initially be agreed by our Social Work Team; when agreed subsequen
t visits should be booked at least 24 hours in advance with a member of the nursing team and approved by the clinical team so that room availability can be confirmed or negotiated on the occasions of high demand.
No under 18s are permitted to enter the unit/ward; please see “Arrangements for U18s visits” that will detail the process.
There are certain items that are either monitored or prohibited when visiting; please click on the link for the list of items.
Parking
We are located on the same site as Little Brook Hospital. Please follow signs for our exact location.
Parking is free but managed by an external parking company, so please do ensure that you collect a parking permit from reception and display in your vehicle upon arrival to avoid getting a parking fine.
Ask Listen Do
This is a film by NHS England for people with a learning disability, autistic people, families and carers which can help when giving feedback, raising a concern or making a complaint.