The first clients have moved into a new rehabilitation unit in Heather Close in Mansfield, opened this week by Nottinghamshire Healthcare.
The excellent new facility, named Bracken House, provides 18 beds for people who have experienced a complex range of mental health issues, requiring long term support and treatment within a controlled environment. This enables people who previously have had to leave their local area for such care to now access it closer to home.
As well as single room accommodation, improving privacy and dignity for clients, the locked rehabilitation unit includes a visitors’ room, clinic and treatment room, dining and lounge area and a multi faith room. Outdoor space including a horticultural area is also accessible to clients, as well as a range of activities.
The unit is a full refurbishment and extension of three of the six existing bungalows which currently make up the Heather Close residential facility; this provides care for people recovering from enduring mental health conditions who are not yet ready to return to home.
The name, Bracken House, was chosen at an Open Day in January, attended by the clinical team, staff, service users and carers, who also had input into the design of the unit.
Jane Lord, Unit Manager, said: “We are delighted with these new facilities, which provide a modern, high quality and welcoming care environment. In the past, the vast majority of placements for clients requiring these services have been outside Nottinghamshire and also within the private sector provision. This fantastic new unit enables service users and carers to be closer to and maintain their links to the communities in which they live.”
The unit is being developed in two phases; the first completed phase comprises 12 beds and the latter, due for completion in October 2011, will provide a further six beds.
