Type of service: Hospital services, Residential services

Website: http://www.stah.org

Following a major upgrade to improve the ward environment and offer enhanced service provision, Northampton's Harlestone Unit is now open and able to accept direct referrals of men with Aspergers/Autism Spectrum Disorders. This new low secure environment is appropriate for men who have offended and/or have mental health problems. Within Lower Harlestone, we will assess service users who may exhibit acutely disturbed behaviour, yet do not need the security features associated with medium security. Service users will undergo a range of assessments to clarify their diagnosis, risks and treatment needs. Following a period of stabilisation, and once the service user is engaging in their treatment programme, they will move to Upper Harlestone for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation that will provide them with the skills to live in a non-secure setting. We will also accept direct referrals for service users who have already undergone an assessment and are ready to continue with a treatment programme in a dedicated specialist environment. The aim of these services is to provide person-centred, individually tailored treatment and rehabilitation packages that are geared towards moving service users in, through and out into less restrictive conditions and community reintegration. We are working closely with the National Autistic Society (NAS), the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) and Debra Moore Associates (DMA) in order to underpin quality service delivery and service user experience. The newly refurbished Harlestone unit has been specifically and sensitively created to meet the needs of this group of service users. A low secure assessment and treatment service is provided, with an extra care facility available, in addition to a rehabilitation unit for service users who require an ongoing treatment programme. The service has a dedicated, in-house, multidisciplinary team which is experienced, well-established and has a high level of expertise. All team members in the service receive both specialist in-house and external training to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills. Recognising the challenges of service users with Autism Spectrum Disorders, we aim to develop communication, social interaction and emotional expression skills by utilising a number of key principles. Through Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) we aim to minimise challenging behaviours and establish the causes and functions of those behaviours, and determine ways to improve quality of life. This approach is characterised by educational, proactive interventions that involve teaching alternative skills to problem behaviours and challenging problematic environmental influences. Specific individual or group therapeutic treatment will be provided in accordance with the needs and abilities of each individual. A range of psychological therapies, to support new skill development and address offending behaviours, will be adapted to meet the needs of service users with ASD. Continuous, in-depth assessments take place throughout the care pathway and progress is both evidence based and benchmarked, with outcome data communicated at each stage. If, at any time, a service user is not responding to a particular treatment, an alternative will be developed. We utilise a range of well accepted and validated outcome measures to track a service user's progress against their care programme.

Aimed at: Adult

Gender: Men/boys only

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour