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Ferndene - Riding, Redburn, and Fraser Wards

'Members of the education team are highly skilled at adapting to particular needs' - Ofsted

'Pupils behave exceptionally well' - Ofsted

Ferndene is a purpose built inpatient mental health unit which provides assessment and treatment for 12- to 18-year-olds with complex mental health, behavioural, and emotional needs, including those with a learning disability.

Newcastle Bridges School based at Ferndene in Prudhoe, Northumberland, provide formal education and creative opportunities for young people who are inpatients at Ferndene.

Teaching

The teaching across the wards of Ferndene include:

Experienced SEN teachers and support staff
Personalised learning opportunities
A multidisciplinary approach where communication and learning from other professionals at Ferndene is vital
Regular weekly reviews of progress and learning with the clinical MDT team
Bespoke timetables reviewed to reflect learning needs and interests of pupils to gain optimum engagement and achievement in learning despite being in a hospital environment
Education Transition Worker who communicates with local authorities as well as schools to ensure links between school, the local authority, and Ferndene are strong for robust transition pathways on discharge
A broad curriculum to engage all types of learners with different interests, including English, Maths, Science, Art, Music, PE, and any other subjects as required.
Suitable accreditation offers, including Functional Skills, GCSEs, A-Levels, Arts Awards, AQA Unit Awards, and support for any college or further education course as required

Our Wards

The Wards

Redburn GAU LD– 4 beds

Redburn is a learning disability inpatient service with 4 beds providing care and treatment for young people who have a learning disability and associated challenging behaviours that can no longer be managed at home. Young people admitted to this service will have a learning disability and other mental health problems and may or may not be subject to detention under the Mental Health Act.

Riding low secure unit (LSU) LD – 3 beds (2)

Riding LD is a low secure inpatient service with 3 beds for young people with mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders requiring assessment or programmes of treatment within a more controlled and secure environment. An additional 2 beds are available for low secure mental health admissions.

Redburn mental health – 10 beds

Redburn is an inpatient general adolescent service with ten beds providing specialist care and treatment to young people with severe and or complex mental disorders, who cannot be adequately or safely treated within community children and young people’s services (CYPS).

Mental disorders can include depression, psychoses, eating disorders, severe anxiety disorders and emerging personality disorder. Young people admitted to this service may or may not be subject to detention under the Mental Health Act.

Riding PICU – 4 beds

The Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is an inpatient service with four beds for young people with behavioural problems which cannot be managed within an inpatient CAMHS service. Levels of security are similar to those in a low security ward. All young people admitted to PICU must be subject to detention under the Mental Health Act.

Curriculum

Curriculum Overview

There are pupils at Ferndene who remain on roll of their home schools/colleges, therefore they will follow their usual curriculum pathway whilst being dual registered. Some young people have no educational provision outside of Ferndene, and therefore Newcastle Bridges School is their only education provision; their needs are assessed and an appropriate curriculum pathway is developed and followed until they are discharged. This may include Maths and English qualifications, if they have not already been achieved, along with careers information and guidance.

Ferndene delivers a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to individuals needs. Appropriate accreditations are offered in the form of A Levels, GCSEs, Entry Level awards, Functional Skills qualifications, or Unit Awards. Subjects offered include English, Maths, Science, Art, Design and Technology, Food Technology, and Music. AQA unit and Arts awards are also offered.

Vocational Opportunities

If pupils can access NHS Section 17 leave, then education staff work closely with the team around the child to facilitate educational leaves. Where appropriate, further in house support is provided with vocational and/or careers information and guidance.

Curriculum Enrichment

Curriculum enrichment is delivered in conjunction with health professionals and tailored to the needs of the young people. On occasion, external providers will deliver specific workshops.