To reflect its setting and commitment to providing a highly specialised therapeutic environment for patients, the name “The Meadow Unit” has been developed by young people and chosen by the staff within the Trust and approved by Oxford City Council.
The new psychiatric intensive care unit for children and young people is currently being built by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust at its Warneford Hospital site in Headington. The eight-bed development is supported by NHS England and will enable young people experiencing the most acutely disturbed phase of a serious mental disorder to receive specialist help closer to home.
A view from above
The new facility is taking shape alongside the well-established Highfield Unit which also provides mental health care for young people – it is also situated right next to Warneford Meadow. You can view the progress in the most recent video from the site below.
Building work will be complete in spring with the unit opening in the summer.
Taking a look inside
Katrina Anderson, the Trust’s Service Director for Oxfordshire, BaNES, Swindon & Wiltshire Mental Health Directorate, visited the site recently to take a look at how the building is shaping up.
She said: “It’s great to see the building really taking shape inside and out.
“We have been able to see the inside first hand and walk through what will be an excellent therapeutic and caring environment when it is finished.
“The next few months are going to be very exciting with the prospect of the PICU opening its doors and welcoming patients, families as well as new colleagues.”
A chance to join a quality workforce
In readiness for the opening next year the Trust is now busy recruiting the staff who will provide high-quality care and help young people who are acutely unwell.
Oxford Health’s Chief Nurse, Marie Crofts, said: “It is always a challenge to come up with a name for new premises, but the Meadow Unit seems so fitting as it is right next to Warneford Meadow and the aim has always been to provide a nurturing and therapeutic space for the young people that will be receiving care and treatment.
“Now is also a really exciting time as we work towards the opening of the Meadow Unit for anyone seeking a new role in mental health as we have some great opportunities.
“To anyone thinking of applying to work at the Meadow Unit, I would say that it’s a great chance to be in at the beginning helping to build the service and the team. You will be working with a small number of young people at a vitally important time in their mental health recovery.”
Oxford Health offers a range of rewarding training, learning and development opportunities and qualifications, visit the Oxford Health recruitment pages to learn more.
To find out more about the roles on offer now, and to keep up to date when new ones are advertised, visit the Oxford Health recruitment pages.
Inside the Meadow Unit
The unit has been designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for young people and will benefit from a range of facilities to meet the specialist needs of this group of individuals, including school rooms, therapy spaces, rest areas, an outside gym and sports area.
Patients will have access to highly specialised professionally qualified staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week offering skilled emotional, behavioural, mental and physical health care.
There will be a range of activities, therapy and treatment on offer to support those in need of intensive support from a diverse range of staff from nursing staff, education staff, occupational therapists, psychologists and medical staff to name but a few.
Published: 26 January 2023