1. education
2. school

Patient Information Booklet
Ellern Mede Ridgeway,
Holcomb Hill,
Mill Hill,
London.
NW7 4HX
Tel: 020 3209 7900 1
Introduction Welcome to Ellern Mede, we recognise coming into hospital can be quite a scary time. Leaving home, family and friends is very difficult. We hope to make this time as comfortable as possible for you. This leaflet will give you some information about this hospital and hopefully answer some of your questions. When you have read through, if you have any more questions, please ask a member of staff. Page Number
2 Introduction 3 What is Ellern Mede?
4/5
6
2
Who will I meet?
Ellern Mede School
7/9 Things to Know
10 Things that aren't allowed on the unit
11
Meal Times
12 Who’s Who at Ellern Mede Ridgeway Notes 13
Contents
What is Ellern Mede? Ellern Mede is a 20­bedded unit which admits young people, between the ages of 8 and 18 years. Ellern Mede specialises in the treatment of eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, pervasive arousal withdrawal syndrome and other disorders with eating related difficulties. This hospital offers two treatment programmes; High Dependency, and Rapid Response. There is a small onsite school which young people attend while they are staying with us. You will find more information about the school in the ‘Ellern Mede School’ section. There are a range of planned activities to keep you busy which will be explained in the ‘Weekly Timetable’ section. There is also a range of staff to support you during your stay who will introduce themselves in the ‘Who will I meet’ section. As an additional security precaution and for the protection of all patients, the Hospital is equipped with electronic door access control. Informal patients should therefore ask a staff member if they wish to go out. Please be mindful that the ward is a busy environment and staff will endeavour to be at your assistance as soon as possible. Staff can facilitate your leaving the ward in line with your detention status, agreed care plan and in consideration of your safety. 3
Who will I meet?
At Ellern Mede you will meet other young people and a team of staff. You will be allocated nurses as key workers who will be responsible for coordinating your care and will meet with you. You will have some health care assistants who will be your associate workers, and they will be involved in helping you to achieve your goals. At Ellern Mede we have a multi­disciplinary team which means you will receive support from a range of professionals, depending upon your individual needs. Here are a few of the staff you may meet: Nursing Staff There are around 20 nurses in total including Nancy, the head of Nursing; Rachel and Zofia the ward Team Leaders. On the units there will always be nurses around to talk to, and provide you with the care and medications you might need. Health Care Assistants You will meet lots of health care assistants who will be around on the ward to give you extra support, and spend time with you​
. Consultant Psychiatrist The Consultant Psychiatrist here at Ellern Mede is called Doctor Hind; she is also the Clinical Director. She is a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, with a special interest in eating disorders. As well as Doctor |Hind there is Doctor George. Either Doctor Hind or Doctor George will be looking after your treatment plan with the help of the rest of the team.
Speciality Doctor
The Hospital Speciality Doctors are responsible for monitoring your physical and mental health. They will arrange required investigations, prescribe your medication and discuss your treatment with you and your family/carers. The doctors here are called Doctor Ana and Doctor Galina. Family Therapists Family therapy helps young people and their families to work together to help them understand and find ways to get through problems and difficulties. By meeting and talking together we also think about personal and family strengths to support everyone through difficult times. The family therapists are called Colette and Nina. Psychology Team The Clinical Psychologist here is called Amy. Often patients will meet with Amy weekly which gives you a space to be listened to and share your difficulties. There is also an assistant psychologist called Pammie. She will meet with you do go through some questionnaires to help us get to know you better. Sometimes you might have therapy sessions with Pammie which are designed to help you think about your thinking styles. There is also a psychotherapist called Wendy who you have the option to see and an Art Therapist 4
called Sally who you can have both individual and group sessions with. Dietitian The Dietitian is called Oliver. The dietitian’s job is to support and guide patients and their families in planning a balanced diet. You will see the dietitian each week to discuss and agree your weekly menu plans. Social Worker The Social Worker Steve Cross is available to offer support and advice to families and young people whilst receiving treatment within the hospital. He can contact the Advocate/IMHA if requested although they do visit the unit on a regular basis. 5
Ellern Mede School Teachers at Ellern Mede School know how important it is for young people to maintain their progress in education. Every effort is made to maintain links with the young peoples’ home­schools and ensure the work that is followed meets your individual needs.
We recognise that school work is a good distraction for young people, and that most young people wish to continue their learning, so as when they return to their home­school they can be easily re­integrated. Through, your Key Teacher, contact with your home­school is maintained and work is sent through regularly. This work is supported by a fully qualified team of subject specialist who can teach to the highest levels. Should you be struggling with any aspect of your learning, through our Special Educational Needs teacher, we can provide you with the support you need to achieve. 6
Useful Things To Know Activities On the unit ​
We have activities such as yoga; Pilates and Wii dance weekly. We also have an activities room for arts and crafts. There is a small IT suite available for our young people to use. We have a small gymnasium where you can access either a treadmill or bike when exercise is prescribed. Off the unit Various activities will be arranged such as shopping and social snack and social lunch. These may be in groups or individually with staff. Some activities here at Ellern Mede are subject to your individual care plan, such as swimming– so you can talk to your doctor about the activities you might like to join in with. Group Work There are a range of groups that run each week at Ellern Mede. These are run by the psychology team, and you will see when the different groups run on the weekly timetable. Leave Each young person’s ability to go on home leave will be assessed on an individual basis and is based on health and progress. Weekend home leave is encouraged as soon as possible but this may not be appropriate at the beginning of a young person’s admission. Hours out from the unit with family and/or carers are often the first step, followed by day leave and then overnight leave. 7
Visiting
Monday to Friday visiting hours are between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Saturday and Sunday visiting hours are 10am­ 12pm and 4.00pm – 8.00pm. Patients will usually be asked to return to the unit at mealtimes, and the parent/ carer will be asked to wait at reception. Visits will normally take place in the family room, or visitor’s room, and are to be agreed with the team beforehand. Any gifts or property brought for patients must be checked by nursing staff before being taken onto the unit; to ensure a safe environment for all staff and patients. Telephone Calls
If your family and friends wish to make contact with you, we ask that they contact the unit within allocated phone times so as not to disrupt the treatment programme. Allocated phone times are between 6.30pm­ 8.30pm on weekdays, and 10.00am­ 12.00pm/ 6.30pm­ 8.30pm on weekends. Personal mobile phones are not allowed on the unit. However the hospital will provide basic ‘pay as you go’ mobile phones, which parents/carers can top up as they feel necessary. These can be used during allotted phone times. Levels of Observation Young people need different levels of observation from time to time depending on their mood, anxiety or stress levels. This is to make sure young people get the support they need. When you arrive you are likely to be on, what we call one to one observation. This means one of the health care assistants will be with you while we get to know you a little more. Each week the staff have a meeting and different things about your care plan (like your level of observation) might change. 8
Technology Technology which can take photographs, visual/ audible recording or go online are not permitted on the ward. However there are I.T facilities available within the school, and the activity room where young people can be monitored for appropriate use. Valuables & Pocket Money
In order to keep valuables safe, we advise that patients leave any special or expensive items at home. Whilst at Ellern Mede, we advise a maximum of twenty pounds pocket money which will be kept in the ward safe. Any monies taken out will be signed for by the nurse in charge, and counter signed for by the patient. Fire Procedure The fire system is tested every Friday at 2pm. If you discover a fire, please inform a member of staff immediately who will raise the alarm and investigate. If the fire alarm sounds for longer than 10 seconds, please go to your nearest nursing station where staff will provide you with instructions. 9
Things that ​
aren't​
allowed in the unit These items are not allowed on either unit (Nunn & Lask) ●
Aerosols ●
Alcohol ●
Blutak ●
Cameras / Camcorders (including any devise i.e. mobile or iPod that can record.) ●
Chewing Gum ●
Glass (including mirrors) ●
Medications ●
Nail Varnish/Nail Varnish Remover (unless supervised) ●
Scissors (other than those recorded by nursing team) ●
Needles / Pins / Drawing Pins ●
Any item which produces a spark or naked flame ●
Illicit Drugs ●
Inappropriate or provocative material ●
Sharps Any items removed are to be recorded and either stored or sent home.
10
Meal Times All young people will have opportunity to contribute to their weekly menu planning with the dietitian, considering their stages of treatment and their dietary needs. Usually, following admission, the prescribed menu will be gradually increased, depending on physical health and progress. Menus will only be discussed with the dietitian and no changes will be made unless there is an emergency. Young people have three main meals a day, two snacks between meals and supper before going to bed. Meal and snack times are scheduled at routine times, with strict start and finish times. Time allowed for a main meal is 30 minutes (inclusive of meal supplements) and 15 minutes for snacks. Initially, young people will receive one­to­one support in the dining room. This enables staff to better understand the struggles you may be experiencing as well as give more support. Those in the more advanced stages of their treatment programme may move onto the intermediate table which although support is available it is less intense and offer the young person to become more independent. This reintroduces the social aspects of eating and helps young people to take more responsibility for their eating behaviour. In order to progress to the independent table young people need to demonstrate responsibility by ‘normal’ eating behaviour and/or steady weight gain. Should this be too difficult, there may be times when they will be asked to move back to the other tables for extra support. If weight is not gained as expected, or if it drops, then the dietitian will review the diet plans and adjust them accordingly. NG feeding will only be considered if the patient is completely unable to eat and their physical health is deteriorating. However, the consultant psychiatrist or speciality doctor would always discuss this in detail with the patient and their family and consent will be obtained. If consent cannot be obtained, it may be necessary to consider the use of the Mental Health Act will be requested. Weekdays
Weekends
8.30-9.00am
9.00-9.30am
Morning Snack
10.30-10.45am
11.00-11.15am
Lunch
12.45-1.15pm
Afternoon Snack
3.15-3.30pm
Dinner
6.00-6.30pm
Evening Snack
9.00-9.15pm
Breakfast
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WHO’S WHO AT ELLERN MEDE RIDGEWAY
Centre Manager
Consultant Psychiatrist/Clinical Director
Consultant Psychiatrist
Speciality Doctor
Speciality Doctor
Head of Nursing
Team Leader (Lask Unit)
Team Leader (Nunn Unit)
Quality Assurance/Clinical Audit Lead
Clinical Psychologist
Psychotherapist
Research Assistant
Art Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Assistant Psychologist
Consultant Family Therapist
Family Therapist
Dietitian
MHA/Medical Secretary
Centre Administrator/Finance
Chef
Domestic Department
Receptionist
Ward Clerk
Audit Clerk
12
Nancy Maicoo
Dr Hind Al-Khairulla
Dr Tahira George
Dr Ana-Marie Puni
Dr Galina Baciu
Nancy Maicoo
Zofia Youngman
Rachel Jackson
Mary Meneghetti
Wendy Jones
Amy Harrison
Francine Mceneny
Sally Sayers
Diana Goldin
Pamela Stavri
Colette Richardson
Nina Gotua
Oliver Street
Andreea Fainarea
Diane Hughes
Theresa Mohamederhad
Maria
Terri Kelly
Matthew Maicoo
Paul McNamara
NOTES: 13