Type of service: Residential services

Located within William Wake House, our purpose built medium secure facility, Mackaness ward provides specialist services for up to 15 males at any one time. Consideration has been given to the layout and design of our Aspergers/HFA ward, with particular attention paid to personal quiet spaces, the use of block colours, orientation and navigation. We recognise that the needs of an individual with Aspergers/HFA are often unique and their position within the treatment pathway will be specific to their current abilities and engagement in the programme. Some individuals will need specific and individualised work focussing on developing their communication skills, their perceived needs and motivation to engage in the treatment process. Ensuring that the individual is able to communicate basic needs and the environment is able to support this will form an underlying ethos of our culture. Principles such as TEACCH and SPELL inform practice. Ongoing training in up-to-date, relevant interventions is provided, including sensory integration work and social development strategies. Many service users with Aspergers or Higher Functioning Autism (HFA) may also have associated mental health needs, emotional problems or challenging behaviour. Providing highly specialist treatment in an appropriate environment is critical to support the individual in achieving their treatment aims, maintaining optimal health and enjoying a high quality of life. The aim of the service is to provide personcentred, individually tailored treatment and rehabilitation packages that support service users through a care pathway into less restrictive conditions and, where appropriate, discharge and community reintegration. Treatment programmes are informed by a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary formulation of risk and rehabilitation needs which clearly identify the steps individuals will need to take in order to progress through their treatment pathway.

Aimed at: Adult

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability