Acute Adult Inpatient Service, Colchester

The Acute Inpatient Service provides 24 hour treatment and care in a safe and therapeutic setting, actively engaging and involving people who are experiencing an acute mental health episode which cannot be managed in a less restrictive setting, owing to the degree of risk, clinical need or patient choice. Many of those admitted will require detention under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Amendment Act 2007. Where necessary, intense supervision and support will be provided.

Patients receive individualised care and treatment based on the Care Programme Approach (CPA) which highlights crisis management and a place of safety, specialised risk assessments and risk management, intensive assessment, treatment and therapy, stabilisation of acute symptoms and relapse prevention.

The service offers:

• Assistance to acquire and enhance coping skills that promote and enable self- help and the self-management of mental health problems and difficulties
• Collaborative, structured approach towards assisting people to achieve their own recovery
• Diverse range of care interventions
• Individualised planning of treatment and care
• Specialist mental health and risk assessment

Staff in these wards work closely with the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams (CRHT) and the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT).

Please ask for a referral from one of the following:

• GP
• Hospital – A&E