A new crisis house, designed with input from people with lived experience of mental ill health, has opened in Bedford.
The new service at Kelvin Grove, off Rothsay Road, will offer 24-hour short-stay therapeutic support in a homely, non-clinical environment and marks an important milestone in improving emergency mental health care in the Borough.
Developed by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) in partnership with health and social care charity Social Interest Group (SIG) Penrose, the 11-bedroom facility aims to provide a “home away from home” where anyone in crisis can receive compassionate, person-centred support during periods of acute distress.
Funded through a £1.5 million capital investment from NHS England, people with lived experience of mental ill health have worked alongside staff to help shape both the design of the building and the way the service will operate.
Read: New Bedford crisis house to offer alternative to A&E for adults in mental health crisis
Service user Lisa West-Robinson said that from the start, they were treated as equals in the process, not only sharing practical design ideas, but also contributing to how the care should be delivered.
“We wanted Kelvin Grove to feel like a home rather than a hospital,” she said.
“Encouraging independence and building a relationship with the staff based on trust rather than risk.
“Kelvin Grove has been designed with service users, for service users. Creating a unique and consistent approach.”
Community-based support
By providing intensive community-based support before inpatient admission becomes necessary, the service will help reduce avoidable pressure on inpatient mental health services.
The long-vacant property has been fully refurbished, bringing a neglected building back into use for the community.
“The opening of Kelvin Grove is a significant step forward for mental health services in Bedfordshire and Luton,” said Claire McKenna, ELFT chief nurse and lead for peer support and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
“We know that many people experiencing a mental health crisis do not need hospital admission but do need intensive support in a safe and compassionate environment.
“This new service gives people another option, helping them access the right care, at the right time, in a setting designed to support recovery and independence.”
Kelvin Grove will accept referrals for adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing acute mental health distress and would benefit from short-term residential support as an alternative to inpatient admission.
Referrals will be made through ELFT Crisis Pathway Teams, with decisions made within four hours.
By expanding access to high-quality, community-based crisis support, ELFT says that Kelvin Grove will play an important role in strengthening the urgent mental health pathway across Bedfordshire and Luton.
Mark Milton, chief executive of SIG, said: “Kelvin Grove is a powerful example of what can be achieved when NHS partners, the voluntary sector and people with lived experience come together to design support around what people really need.
“We are proud to be working in partnership with East London NHS Foundation Trust to deliver this vital service, which will strengthen the local crisis pathway, support better outcomes for people in distress and help reduce pressure on acute inpatient services.”
