Mobile phone and smoking policy

Smoking

The hospital operates a No Smoking Policy in line with the Trust Policy and Procedures. This is an evidenced based policy, which promotes healthy lifestyles. The staff on the unit will support young people in smoking cessation and are able to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy and offer smoking cessation advice.

Young people will not be able to carry smoking related items on the unit. They will be held in the unit safe if they are brought to the unit until your parent/carer can collect them.

Mobile phone access

Young people can bring mobile phones onto the ward. The use of these phones is subject to a contract being signed in relation to their safe and proper use, as detailed below.

Phones will be available outside of the ward programme to encourage participation and concentration. This includes education, therapeutic groups and individual therapy sessions.

Mobile phone use must be appropriate, and not in a way which could cause harm to the young person or other young people and not in a way that violates the privacy, causes harm or disturbs another person, patient or staff member on Poplar Adolescent Unit.

The misuse of mobile phones by an individual leads to their initial 24 hour removal. Persistent issues will lead to them being permanently removed from that young person. They will then need to use the ward phone to maintain contact with friends and family. This will be under supervision to maintain safety. 

If the young person declines to return the device to the staff team, then this could result in the person who owns and pays for the handset being asked to give permission for the device to be checked, although this will be carried out sensitively by the staff team.

If there is a serious safe-guarding risk concern, then the staff team may seek legal advice on how to access the information to be able to maintain the safety of the unit.

Mobile phones will not be used during mealtimes to promote social inclusion and social skills.

The recording and camera facility on the device will not be used whilst on the unit.