Specialist Older People’s Services

These services offer specialist care to older people with either an organic brain disorder such as dementia; or with a functional disorder such as psychosis, depression or personality disorder. People who use the service may as a result of these illnesses present with behaviours that are challenging to carers or nursing homes such as wandering, aggression or anti-social behaviour. The multidisciplinary team is experienced in understanding and resolving complex, challenging behaviours in a dignified manner. The holistic, biopsychosocial (BPS) approach supports the person to recover a sense of their own identity, optimising their strengths.

There are four units in our services:

George Jepson and Katherine Allen are two gender specific units for older people, presenting with challenging behaviours of either an organic or functional nature. They provide person-centred recovery orientated interventions in a stimulating environment. In conjunction with Katherine Allen II and Blair Atholl, these units can provide a stepping stone to more independent living or continuing care where this is not possible.

Katherine Allen II unit works closely with Katherine Allen and George Jepson units. It empowers more physically able and socially active patients to live as independently as possible.

Blair Atholl is a community rehabilitation unit for older people (55+) with mental health problems many of whom have spent long periods of their life in hospital. Based in the village of Haxby patients can access local community facilities and benefit from a real sense of social inclusion.We accept referrals for short stay eg assessments, and for long stay placements.

Treatment Philosophy

We are committed to:

Creating an environment that is conducive to, and enhances the process of recovery.
Comprehensive and regular assessments.
Treatment that is focused on reducing the severity and frequency of challenging behaviours.
Meaningful and personalised activities that maintain and enhance the life skills and interests of our patients through individual and group work.
Help the patient maintain strong links with family and friends through regular contact and visits.
Regularly reviewing the effectiveness of care through planned case review meetings with the CPA team.

Our Care Team

In addition to a full range of ancillary services the Older People’s Service has a dedicated multidisciplinary team consisting of:

Clinical Service Manager
Consultant Psychiatrist
Social Worker
Psychologist and Psychology Assistant
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapist
Clinical Team Leaders
Registered Nurses (Mental Health)
Support Workers (educated to NVQ Level 3)
Team Administrator
Advocacy
Activity Coordinator

In addition to this, our care team provides support and mentorship to nursing, occupational therapy and psychology students.

Who will benefit from our services?

Men and women aged 55 years and above either informal or detained under the Mental Health Act.
A primary presenting problem of challenging behaviour and complex needs eg psychosis or dementia.
A significant degree of underlying or co-existing cognitive impairment.
A background of long term mental illness.
Men and women who are difficult to be cared for in a more ordinary setting due to the severity of their challenging behaviour.

To read our Specialist Older People's Services Guide, click here.

For information about accessing treatment, please click here.