Women’s Blended Service

The Women's Blended Service at Arnold Lodge provides an integrated pathway from medium secure care through to discharge directly to community living and is provided on 2 wards:

• Swithland Ward provides treatment within a standard Medium Secure service.
• Bluebell Ward provides rehabilitation and treatment in preparation for discharge to the community.

 

Our aim:

The Blended service aims to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care and treatment for women who have complex life experiences, mental health needs and behaviour, in the least restrictive environment right for those needs.

 

Our approach:

The Blended service is focused on recovery and follows a 'stages of treatment' model that provides evidence-based treatments for the needs of patients at any given time. Our care model is based on research and includes ideas from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT).

A helpful metaphor for the five-step 'stages of treatment' model is the lifecycle of a butterfly - from egg, caterpillar and cocoon, through to a butterfly able to spread its wings and fly away. We collaborate with patients referred to the service to understand the stage they are at and provide tailored treatments that build skills and help them recover and stay well.

Step	Treatment stage	Metaphor	Treatment aims
1	Safety	The 'delicate' egg	Staff help to create a safe environment for patients
2	Containment	The hungry caterpillar	Patients learn skills to keep themselves and others safe
3	Control and Regulation	Making the cocoon	Patients develop and practice their self-coping skills
4	Exploration and Change	Inside the cocoon	Patients explore and understand risks
5	Integration and Synthesis	Butterfly ready to fly	Patients achieve and sustain treatment goals and look to move on

 

How we help:

Our treatments, facilities and multi-disciplinary staffing are all designed to support recovery and promote patients' progression to life in the community. The care and treatment provided in Swithland ward supports patients at the earlier 'Safety' or 'Containment' stages of treatment. The aims of Swithland ward include:

• Developing an understanding of safety
• Providing a basic understanding of trauma, mental health and the patient's personal journey
• Increasing internal motivation for change
• Developing emotional regulation and coping skills
• Developing relational skills and sense of connection

Bluebell ward provides care and treatment tailored for patients who are at the 'Control and Regulation' stage or beyond. The aims of Bluebell ward include:

• Relapse prevention
• Risk reduction
• Building community links and developing skills for community living
• Building a value-led life a life worth living

The Blended service is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, doctors, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. The staff team is experienced in supporting transgender patients or members of the LGBTQIA+ community and can provide specialist interventions for patients who present with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other neurodiversity.

Swithland and Bluebell ward also provide patients with a structured day of social, recreational, vocational and exercise activities. These activities help women practice new skills and prepare for their future.

 

Our recovery-orientated approach:

The Blended service provides continuity of care and enables patients to transition seamlessly from the controlled environment of medium secure care to the independence of life in the community. Safety and security across both wards in the service is built on developing mutually respectful, supportive therapeutic relationships between staff and patients. Patients and staff work together to prepare patients for discharge and the service continues to support patients for six months after they transition to the community.