Kimblesworth is a key stepping stone in the pathway towards adult mental health recovery and independence. The unit is also a key stopping point for people who require longer term 24-hour specialised nursing care to maintain their wellbeing and safety. The unit is staffed at all times by qualified mental health nurses along with support staff. Located in Kimblesworth Village, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
The Service
Kimblesworth is a specialist 24-hour nurse staffed adult and older person’s mental health unit operating within a client-centred rehabilitation and recovery model.
The service is aimed at individuals with mental health problems including anxiety disorders, bi-polar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.
Qualified, highly trained and experienced staff provide specialised nursing care and support to facilitate individual's progress towards recovery.
Our starting premise is always that service users have strengths, skills and abilities and that they can use these strengths as a platform to build upon as they take steps towards recovery.
The unit operates a named worker system providing one-to-one and group support with a focus on recovery taking a person centred approach.
Staff training exceeds Care Quality Commission requirements. In addition to all mandatory training care staff have been trained to NVQ level 3 in Health and Care. We support those who wish to achieve NVQ level 4. Qualified staff access additional personal and professional development opportunities through Teesside University School of Health including degree level courses in Psychosocial Interventions, Palliative Care, Working with Behaviours that Challenge and others.
Kimblesworth offers a 20 bedded unit that is well equipped and spacious with pleasant communal areas, training kitchen and attractive gardens with sitting areas.
Older People.
Specialised nursing care is provided to older people living at Kimblesworth who, following lengthy periods in institutional settings, have not been able to achieve a level of recovery to enable them to live more independently.
Some of these service users have been assessed as being extremely unlikely to be able to progress to a level where they can safely manage with lower levels of support and the specialised nursing care provided at Kimblesworth is recognised as being essential to meet their needs.
Therefore, staff at the unit deliver client centred, holistic care to meet the needs of longer stay, aging service users.
Vocational activities - Support is provided to enable service users to access training and education where they wish to do so.
Social Activities – service users are supported to engage in social activities within and outside of the unit on a one-to-one basis and in groups. All service users have the opportunity to go on holiday should they wish to do so.
Physical Health - As well as supporting service users to manage their mental health needs we offer ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ activities.
The unit has a resource area where leaflets and brochures providing information on mental and physical health can be accessed.
The staff team works closely with other health and social care professionals to ensure effective joint working and communication for the benefit of the client.
Clients who have the support of carers/family can involve them in care planning and decision making if they wish to do so.
We ensure a focus on recovery within a client centred approach using models including the STAR Recovery Model, Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing and Orem model of nursing.
Service brochure
A detailed service brochure is available on request. Please contact the relevant Service Manager.
