A specialist children’s mental health ward in Glasgow has been praised in a report by Mental Welfare Commission inspectors.
The National Children’s Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children cares for children aged between five and 12 years of age with significant mental health issues, including depression, suicidality and eating disorders.
It is the only unit of its kind in the country and treats young people from across Scotland.
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Inspectors spoke to young patients, their relatives and carers as well as staff and their findings found that children felt they were “listened to” and that they found the staff “easy to speak to”.
Families said they were “confident their children were being well looked after” and that their suggestions as to what had been particularly helpful to them in terms of support had been taken on.
The report also recognised that “detailed person-centred care plans” kept by the multidisciplinary team “were of a very high standard”.
The Commission were also impressed with the physical environment of the ward, which is used “creatively to support individual patient care” with artworks both in communal areas and bedrooms which are “reflective, and supportive, of particular treatment goals”.
Andrea Blair, Service manager, Specialist Children’s Services, said: “We use a trauma-informed approach, Special Children’s Service and make sure that it is understandable to the young people in our care by using the language they use, such as emojis, rather than more clinical terms when discussing their care with them.
“This means young people can shape and own the treatment they receive.”
”There has been an increased demand for our service in recent years which we have been able to meet so we are delighted that the report has recognised and highlighted the exemplary care provided for young people and the work of all the team on the ward.”
The Mental Welfare Commission visits are followed by recommendations and advice for service providers if required.
All of their findings are subsequently made available to Public Health Scotland.
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