Children and Young Peoples’ Mental Health Service (CYPMHS) inpatient unit for West Yorkshire

We are . . .

Young person-centred

We will ensure that young people are involved in their care planning and treatment. We will help young people to achieve independence and well-being, and will respect them. We work non-judgmentally with regard to a young person’s religious beliefs and culture. We are responsive to disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, spiritual, cultural, religious, physical, and sensory needs.

Assessment and formulation led

Outcomes for young people are better in the community and an inpatient admission should be a last resort. Sometimes however, an admission is the only option, to provide safe and effective care. We will ensure that presenting problems are assessed comprehensively, a formulation is developed, and that clear recommendations are made for how care can be continued in the community when possible.

Psychologically driven

A psychological formulation explores the impact of the difficulties with which a young person presents. Young people will be supported to make changes in their lives such as managing behaviours and emotions while improving relationships and reducing unhelpful coping strategies.

Trauma informed

We consider how trauma is widespread and causal in the development of mental health problems. We are committed to reducing the use of restrictive interventions, prioritising trustworthiness and transparency. We develop collaborative relationships with young people and our strengths-based approach sees symptoms as understandable attempts to cope with trauma and its consequences.

Supportive of staff wellbeing and development

It is recognised that work in an inpatient CYPMH service is emotive and challenging and that staff need high quality and ongoing training, supervision and support. Staff will also have access to reflective practice that enables effective working, personal and professional development and which promotes staff wellbeing.

Systemic

The service will develop a holistic and systemic approach, recognising the impact of family, friends, community professionals and school in a young person’s experience and understanding that environment cannot be separated from a young person’s mental wellbeing.

Aware of the importance of families and carers

Care planning will involve families and carers as far as is appropriate. This will be integrated into the care planning and communication processes for the service. Families and carers will also be invited to influence the design, development, and delivery of the service.

Integrated

The inpatient service is one aspect of the CYPMHS pathway; it is necessary to consider the purpose of an inpatient admission in the context of the overall offer for children, young people and families. Inpatient admissions should be an extension of community work and not a separate intervention and the team will work closely with community services and partner agencies.

A learning organisation

Inpatient services work with small, complex populations. It is essential that we promote an understanding of how and why young people are referred and admitted. This will enable us to identify patterns, themes and anomalies which will inform future best practice.

The service will seek to develop opportunities for innovative practice based on our learning in a safe and constructive manner. Innovation will be a consistent consideration and clinical governance will provide a structure to ensure all developments are thoroughly considered in implementation and evaluation.