Children and Young People Mental Health Services

Welcome to Mill Lodge

Mill Lodge is a 10 bedded specialist inpatient unit for young people aged 13 to 18 living in York and North Yorkshire. We provide a safe, supportive environment for those who need more intensive mental health care than can be offered in the community.

• Who we support
• When and Why You Might Come to Red Kite View
• What to Expect
• For Parents and Carers
• How to Get Help
• What Happens Next?
• Urgent Help

Who We Support

We care for young people who:

• Are experiencing severe mental health difficulties
• Need a higher level of support than community services can provide
• May be admitted informally or under the Mental Health Act

When and Why You Might Come to Mill Lodge

You might come to Mill Lodge if:

• You’re struggling to keep yourself safe
• Your mental health needs require 24-hour care
• You need structured support to help you recover

What to Expect

• A welcoming, therapeutic environment
• Your own care plan, created with you and your family
• A team who will listen and involve you in decisions
• Activities and therapies to support your recovery
• Flexible visiting times for families (with safety guidelines)

For Parents and Carers

We encourage families to be actively involved in care:

• Attend meetings and care planning sessions
• Visit regularly (visiting times can be arranged to suit your needs)
• Speak to our team about any questions or concerns

How to Get Help

You cannot refer yourself directly to Mill Lodge. A mental health professional will talk to you and your family first and decide if inpatient care is right for you. If you or your family/carer feels that you need inpatient care, contact your local community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Teams (CAMHS team) via your GP.

Access and Referral

Referrals into our service must be made by a member of a community CAMHS team and endorsed by a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist.

The process follows the standard NHS England procedure:

• A member of a community CAMHS team must complete NHS England’s ‘referral form 1’ and submit it to Mill Lodge referrals, during the hours of 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. This referral form is available from your area NHS England case manager.
• To make a referral out-of-hours, please call the York District Hospital switchboard on 01904 631313 and ask to speak to the on-call consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist. The consultant will then liaise with Mill Lodge regarding the appropriateness of the referral and arrange admission if this is agreed to be the best course of action.
• Depending on both the urgency of the referral and the clinical acuity in the ward, staff will discuss an appropriate time and date for admission over a phone call or email.

If you have any queries whilst making a referral, please do not hesitate to contact Mill Lodge on 01904 294050 to speak to a clinician.

What Happens Next?

1. Assessment – We’ll meet with you and your family to understand your needs.
2. Admission – If Mill Lodge is right for you, we’ll explain what to bring and what to expect.
3. Your Stay – You’ll have your own room, meet the team, and start your care plan.
4. Planning Ahead – We’ll work with you and your family to plan for discharge and ongoing support.

Urgent Help

If you or someone you know needs immediate medical help, call 999. If you’re not sure what to do, visit NHS 111 online, call 111 and select option 2 for mental health, or visit our Urgent Help page.

Services by phone

Useful links:

• MindWell (Leeds): Local mental health support and crisis advice
• MindMate (Leeds): Support for young people thinking about suicide
• Night Owls (West Yorkshire): Helpline for children, young people, and parents/carers
• Papyrus HOPELINE247: Suicide prevention support for under 35s
• Mind website: More information about crisis service contacts

Other sources of support (non-crisis)

• Childline: Call 0800 1111 (Free, 24/7)
• Samaritans: Call 116 123 (Free, 24/7)