Westbridge – Patient Information Leaflet

Westbridge is a residence in the community for men and women.

It is a joint project, owned and ran by Tyne Housing, supported by a Clinical Team from Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

Westbridge provides assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for men and women over 18 years who have been assessed as having an identified risk of causing significant harm to self or others, and have a mental disorder or learning difficulty.

We have 14 single beds – 12 full time and 2 in-reach beds for graded integration. We offer support for people being discharged from hospital or prison to help them return to living in the community.

Moving into the community can be stressful and Westbridge is a useful step down to help you build on your strengths, test out potential concerns around risk, and develop your skills to help you move onto more independent accommodation.

The team includes a number of different professionals working together who have experience of helping people with mental health problems.

These include:

• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Service manager
• Support workers
• Community Psychiatric Nurses
• Admin staff
• Social Workers
• Occupational Therapists
• Tyne Hostel workers
• Tyne Hostel manager

When you arrive you will be welcomed by a member of the care team or Tyne Housing staff. They will explain what will happen during your stay and give you information.

You will have time to settle in and have a look around your environment. You will be asked to agree and to sign a licence agreement with Tyne Housing.

We have a curfew of 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 12 midnight Friday and Saturday. No drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises.

The length of stay depends on your personal needs. The clinical care team will discuss this with you. An average length of stay is 18 months, but it does depend on personal need.

You will have your own bedroom with a wash basin. There is a shared bathroom, kitchen, lounge and dining room. Lounges have a TV and music system.

You will have your own key to your bedroom and medication cabinet.

You will pay rent to Tyne Housing and receive an evening meal. Food is also supplied for breakfast and a light snack at lunch time. All food, bills, cleaning products and facilities are included in your rent (other than TV licence).

You will be expected to maintain a structured day during the week, engaging in activities within the community setting. This is to help reduce social isolation and develop your confidence.

Once your care team have assessed your needs we will create a treatment plan with you. This will involve group and 1:1 sessions.

We will encourage you to tell us what you are interested in and then find activities to meet your needs. Some of the activities are:

• monthly house meetings
• voluntary work
• daily job rota
• gym
• self-catering
• badminton
• courses
• walking
• social group
• gardening

We encourage people to have their friends and family visit them when at Westbridge.

However we do ask that they are booked in 24 hours in advance and only come between 5pm and 7.30pm. This is because we encourage you to have a structured day and you may be engaging in leisure/work based activities.

Visitors are only allowed in communal areas, and must not be left unaccompanied. No visitors under the age of eighteen are permitted.

Care co-ordination is the framework in which care is provided for all service users accepted by mental health services.

You will have a named care co-ordinator who is the member of the team responsible and best placed to oversee your care plan. You will be given their contact details and they are your first port of call in the event of any problems.

Your care coordinator will keep in regular contact with you.

Staff can arrange an interpreter if you need one.

For travel information contact Nexus Traveline on 0871 200 22 33. Their website address is www.traveline.info.

Westbridge
20 Albion Road
North Shields
NE29 0HT

Telephone: 0191 293 0530
Fax: 0191 293 0531

If you are worried about your mental health, talk to Tyne Housing staff. They will offer you advice and support and seek further help if required.

Alternatively you can go to A&E.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]. Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

For any concerns regarding the service provided by Tyne Housing please contact:
Director of Housing & Support
Tyne Housing
St. Silas Church Building
Clifford Street, Byker
Newcastle, NE6 1PG

Telephone: 0191 265 8621

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]

Post: FREEPOST PALS
South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]

Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre by telephone on 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2020 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/147/1020 October 2020 V4

Website www.cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone 0191 246 7288

Review date 2023