Admission to adult mental health wards for under 18's - adaptation for Scotland: guidance

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The ward provides a comfortable environment for young people.

2

Young people can access a diverse range of age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate games and media entertainment on a daily basis, with discretion around patient and staff safety and privacy.

Note: Young people have requested that this is managed discretely and does not limit the choice of materials for others over 18 on the ward.

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The ward has safeguards in place to monitor media use (including the internet) and prevent exposure to inappropriate material.

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Young people on the ward have easy access to outside space on a daily basis for exercise and fresh air.

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The outside space has seating available for relaxation, and has an area where patients and visitors can converse in private.

1

Staff take the necessary action to ensure the young person's safety outside by, for example, providing a member of staff to escort the young person outside.

1

Reasons for denying access to outside space must relate to a young person's individual clinical risk, and be justified and recorded in the notes each time access is denied.

1

There are policies and procedures to prevent unwanted visitors entering the ward.

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Where possible and if required, young people can access a discrete age-appropriate day area, where young people can be cared for away from the adult patient group. This is to be based on clinical need only.

Note: Young people emphasise that they are not to be kept away from other adult service users on the ward unless there is a clinical need for separation.

1

There are policies and procedures to prevent adult service users from entering the young person's designated area.

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The ward has a policy to support and safeguard visitors under the age of 18.

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Entrances and exits are designed to enable staff to see who is entering or leaving, and if required CCTV is used to achieve this.

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Young people are given the most appropriate bed according to their clinical need i.e. those at high risk should be given a bed located in an area with clear lines of sight for closer observation.

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The young person's sleeping area is in a securely separated area of the ward, away from the opposite-sex.

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Young people are provided with their own single bedroom.

Note: Young people reported that they would like a choice of a single room or sharing with another young person of the same sex. A young person should not share a bedroom with an adult where at all possible.

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All young people can bathe and wash in private and in areas separate from the opposite sex.

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Young people have access to a comfortably furnished private room, other than their bedroom, where they can meet with visitors such as their family or friends (including children or younger siblings).

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Young people have access to a telephone to make and receive calls in private (not right outside the nurses' station) and on which they may raise concerns without being overheard (e.g. to Childline). There is a clear communication policy about the use of mobile phones.