Ferndene

Ferndene provides assessment and treatment for young people who have complex health, behavioural and emotional needs, including young people with a learning disability.

01661 838400

Ferndene Prudhoe Northumberland NE42 5PB

Ferndene is a purpose-built £27million inpatient centre. It was the first such integrated service of its kind in the country and is based on the former Prudhoe Hosptial site, 12 miles west of Newcastle.

The modern facilities provide accommodation for children and young people from North East England and Cumbria. Some of the specialist services also get referrals from across the United Kingdom.

Opened in autumn 2011, the purpose-built centre provides a range of therapeutic educational, social and recreational facilities and at the time of opening was the first such integrated mental health and learning disability service in the UK.

Ferndene was designed with the involvement of service users, their carers and children from the local community. Design features enable the integration of internal and external space using a woodland theme. The ethos of Ferndene is to offer a calm and therapeutic environment, ensuring young people experience an ordinary routine during their stay by separating living and educational space.

Ferndene has 29 beds in four different units:

  • Fraser: a eight bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients aged from 13-18 years) with mental health and developmental needs and mild to moderate learning disability.
  • Stephenson: a seven bed low secure unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients aged between 14 and 18 years with mild to moderate learning disability and a requirement for high levels of supervision in a safe environment.
  • Redburn: a ten bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients under the age of 18 with early onset psychosis or complex mental health disorders.
  • Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): a four bed unit providing Psychiatric Intensive Care.

All the young people have their own bedroom, most of which have en-suite facilities. In addition, there is a wide range of therapy, educational, social and recreational facilities. Ferndene also has a flat for visiting families and office accommodation for staff.

Maximising the therapeutic and social benefits experienced by young people during their stay is a priority at Ferndene. A central social space forms the heart of the unit, with a number of informal spaces enhancing the concept of listening that is promoted throughout Ferndene.

Young people have access to:

  • Activities and recreation centre
  • Art room
  • Café
  • Educational / IT suite
  • Flower meadow
  • Group rooms
  • Interview rooms
  • ‘Listening posts’ providing young peoples’ poetry
  • Meeting rooms

Services at Ferndene are part of a care pathway which is delivered alongside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and with multi-agency partners. Referrals are accepted from anywhere in the UK and are through a single point of access system. Staff will then advise on the most appropriate and effective way of meeting the patient’s needs in Ferndene.

Referrals are accepted from Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services , Consultant Paediatricians or by other inpatient services.

Who can be referred?

Young people who have undergone a full mental health assessment and have a diagnosis of severe acute and/or complex mental health, behavioural and emotional needs

  • Children and young people under 18 years of age
  • Young people with full spectrum of mental health and learning disabilities
  • Males and females
  • Formal and informal patients
  • Young people requiring an enhanced level of inpatient care not available within community services

Referrals are accepted in writing, by hard copy, fax or email. Informal enquiries and advice are welcomed by telephone prior to referrals. Staff are trained to design packages of care that maximise the therapeutic and social benefits experienced by all young people during their stay at Ferndene.