Crisis & The spectrum of UK Mental Health services is huge, and although Secure Mental settings occupy a relatively small number in terms of beds, the services, pathways and settings can be some of the most challenging in the NHS. As such, these environments need a particular design approach and not just in terms of safety, security, and robustness. Design and construction in High/Medium/ Low Secure settings is exacting with compliance and guidance to suit. Gilling Dod have delivered successful and sustainable designs across all these levels and developed fully tried and tested components and details to meet these high impact spaces. The real secret to this success however, is not just in the detail. It is an understanding that spaces for mental health and wellbeing, wherever they are, still relate back to person centred design, neurodiversity, and pathway principles. Rising acuity is a key issue in today’s inpatient Mental Health settings. The move away from restrictive practices has meant designs need to deliver more in terms of de-escalation, flexibility and sensory qualities. Seclusion design, although still vital, is becoming part of a more nuanced approach to risk and acuity. Relational and procedure is overtaking the physical, in terms of importance. Pre-emptive measures and settings are helping meet this risking acuity with URC (Urgent Response Centres), S136 suites, Mental Health suites in A&E, Community Walk-in Centres and Early Intervention Schemes, becoming ever more utilised. Ultimately, risk and acuity will always be part of any Mental Health brief, service or environment. However, with a joined up and holistic approach, it need not mean a new generation of prison builds masquerading as Mental Health Units.... far from it.
Acuity
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