About this location
Priory Hospital Llanarth Court, located in Usk, Monmouthshire, offers secure services for adult males and females. We provide a specialist assessment and treatment service for people with mental health conditions, who present with a variety of behaviours that challenge.
We also have an additional facility within the grounds of the hospital, offering opportunities for individuals who require bespoke packages of care, as part of our bespoke therapeutic placement (BTP) offering.
We are a sector leading example of how providing a wide variety of care settings and a clear care pathway in the direction of recovery, can benefit all individuals.
Services at a glance
Contact us
Priory Llanarth Court Llanarth Raglan Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP15 2YD
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Services
Our secure services offer comprehensive support to people with complex mental health needs. We model our service provision on the NHS secure service specification for medium and low secure services, ensuring our patients are given the highest quality of care to enable quick and smooth transitions into local services, wherever possible. We are committed to delivering clinically effective, evidence-based treatment programmes for individuals who require secure care, providing both psychological and physical security.
Ward break down
- Awen – 16-bedded medium secure ward for females
- Iddon - 17-bedded medium secure ward for males
- Howell – 16-bedded medium secure ward for males
- Deri – 11-bedded low secure ward for males with a learning disability
- Treowen – 11-bedded low secure ward for males
- Teilo – 20-bedded low secure ward for males
Conditions treated
We are able to support people with:
- Complex mental health needs
- Behaviours that challenge
- Severe and enduring mental health needs
- A learning disability
- Personality disorders
- Psychosis
- Self-harm
- Sexual offending behaviour
We can also support people with the following challenges alongside their primary diagnosis:
- Autism
- Physical health needs
We are able to support people who are detained under the Mental Health Act.
Treatment approaches
At Llanarth Court, we offer an individualised, person-centred approach to all of our patients.
We provide pathways of care using the recovery model. Treatment is provided in a manner that maintains people’s dignity and enhances their self-esteem and social acceptance, in a safe and supportive environment. The organisation and function of the units is arranged around different aspects of patient need and security arrangements. The hospital has medium, low and step-down services.
We are a specialist forensic service, focusing on treating those presenting with behaviours that challenge.
Our main goal at Llanarth Court is provide a safe environment and pathway for people staying with us, enabling them to thrive in the least restrictive environment as possible, supporting them to achieve their goals and successfully transition towards living in the community. Our rehabilitation services use the recovery approach, designed to empower patients by providing opportunity and hope through active rehabilitation programmes.
Our assessment and treatment options are overseen by a full and diverse multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Treatment and recovery programmes are planned individually, and are based on a range of interventions. We offer:
- Positive behaviour support (PBS)
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
- Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT)
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Mindfulness
- Family therapy
- Individual and group therapy
- Evidence-based psychopharmacological treatment
We have also achieved a rating of three quality marks (Qs) from the NHS Wales Quality Assurance Improvement Service's (QAIS) Quality Assurance Rating System.
People within our service tend to stay with us on a long-term basis, with an average length of stay of 18 to 24 months.
Our team
Our clinical teams have considerable experience in the assessment and care of offenders with mental health conditions, and other people requiring a secure placement. We seek to promote the recovery of our patients from the point of admission, through to discharge and follow-up. Our experienced MDT provides integrated assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for patients.
Our team consists of:
- Consultant forensic psychiatrists
- Forensic and clinical psychologists
- Registered nurses
- Healthcare workers
- Social workers
- Occupational therapists (OT)
- Therapy assistants
- Therapy support workers
- Adult education tutors
- Practical skills instructor (horticulture, woodwork and manual skills)
- Physical health and wellbeing leads
- Sports therapy department
- Educational tutor
- Responsible clinicians who are all fellows of the royal college of psychiatrists
We also provide specialist staff training, including:
- Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention (RRIT)
- Security
- CBT
- DBT
- Compassion-focused therapy (CFT)
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Dynamic appraisal of situational aggression (DASA)
- Tidal recovery model
Therapeutic and community-based activities
We offer a range of therapeutic and community-based activities as part of a full treatment programme. We want to support people to become more confident and independent, preparing them to move through their treatment pathway towards community living.
Our therapeutic and community-based activities include:
- Social and practical skills training (horticulture, woodwork and manual skills)
- Education sessions
- Current affairs group
- Listening to music
- Quiz group
- Model making group
- Photography group
- Natural history group
- Sports therapy
- Support, activities and advice around healthy eating, diet, sleep hygiene, daily routines and exercise
- Outdoor activity programme including walking, fishing and other outdoor pursuits
- Arts and crafts, gardening, on-site bingo, quizzes, visits from animals, music sessions, sports sessions and cookery sessions
- Vocational rehabilitation, including retaining and learning new skills
- Opportunities to attend local colleges and undertake training in areas such as computing, mathematics and basic skills
- A 12-week rotational therapeutic programme
Our facilities and environment
We believe that the environment in which treatment takes place is just as important as the treatment itself, when it comes to supporting our patients. Part of this hospital is set within a grade II listed, 18th century country house, and set within 96 acres of beautiful grounds. We have rolling lawns, a large lake and an abundance of wildlife for our patients to enjoy. We also provide:
Our garden offers secure fencing, a patio area with furniture, a lawn, shelter, sensory items and planting areas. We also have specialised equipment within the hospital, such as sensory lighting, bean bags and interactive walls, for people to use.
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are single-occupancy and have an en-suite bathroom. Patients are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms while they are staying with us. We provide:
Exclusion profile
People under the age of 18.
Pathways
Priory’s network of high-quality facilities enables us to offer joined-up care pathways with our dedicated residential services. We offer programmes which integrate healthcare treatment and therapy, which are tailored according to individual needs, in an appropriate setting. Our strength is that we can provide a seamless transition for the individual as they progress between higher and lower dependency services.
Llanarth Court provides internal step-down opportunities, which could be for those stepping down from medium secure units or from individual BTPs. We also benefit from a number of well-placed enhanced community homes locally, which provide a seamless transition for those stepping down to a community environment.
At Priory Llanarth Court, we provide BTPs for autistic people and people with a learning disability. Individuals may present with complex and challenging needs, including aggression and sensory issues, and may benefit from the time and space to learn how to self-regulate their own emotions.
The core aim of our BTPs is to offer an environment with the least restrictive practices, where patients who are struggling in a group environment can develop their independence skills, enabling them to transition to community living, when possible.
For more information on Priory’s BTPs, view our dedicated BTP page.
BTP breakdown
- Woodlands, Awen and Howell – 4-bedded BTPs
A message from our site leader
It’s my aim, as hospital director of Llanarth Court, to provide a safe and secure pathway for patients, enabling them to achieve their goals and progress whilst under the care of our team
Llanarth Court site leader
Comments from our patients and their family and friends
I’d like to thank staff for the compassion and care shown to my father whilst he was a patient on Teilo Ward. I feel staff showed dignity and professionalism throughout my father’s time on the ward. I feel the care he received went above and beyond anything expected
Information for family and friends
How do home visits work?
We are able to accommodate home visits, if required. Please discuss with the MDT to finalise details.
What is your visitation policy?
We encourage family involvement and highlight the importance of family visits. This is facilitated on an individual therapeutic basis, per patient. Unfortunately, we cannot cater for visitors to stay overnight, however, we can provide details of local accommodation for such arrangements.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with my loved one’s care and wellbeing?
Yes, you will be in regular contact with the MDT caring for your loved one. We can also arrange more regular catch-ups if you’d prefer, either in person or via telephone, to ensure you are kept informed.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Yes, each person staying with us is provided with a basic mobile phone on arrival, dependent on risk assessment. Also, each ward has a pay phone they can use to contact friends and family.
What type of things are families expected to provide, and what is provided by the home?
Meals and snacks are provided by our catering team. We expect families to provide toiletries and clothing for their loved one, but we can support where necessary.
What are the bedrooms like?
Our bedrooms are designed as a secure therapeutic environment, which includes a locked safe facility. People staying with us are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, dependent on risk.
Are external doors kept locked?
External doors are opened via a swipe card, or open automatically in the event of an emergency. Every person staying with us will be individually assessed for any risks to see what security is needed.
What do service users eat and how do meal times work?
People staying with us have four meals a day. We have a selection of meals that are available and chosen on a daily basis. The menus offer a balanced and varied choice of meals, which have input from an external dietitian. We also offer a specific dietary needs menu for patients who require this.
How does laundry work?
Each ward has their own specific laundry area for people to use. Staff will support them in using these areas.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
We have a restricted and prohibited items list, which is reviewed and updated regularly. This can be seen on request and will be shared prior to admission.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are not permitted on-site.
How do activities work?
Everyone staying with us has a tailored activities planner. Our dedicated activities co-ordinator organises a variety of activities, with input from loved ones. This includes both in-house activities, as well as visits into the community, where appropriate.
Do service users and families have an input into the service user’s care plans?
Family involvement is a key aspect to the care of those staying with us. This is dependent on their consent. All care plans are patient-focused and your loved ones will be heavily involved in developing their individual care and treatment plans.
What are the car parking facilities?
There is lots of free car parking on-site and our main reception is surrounded by available parking.
What is the smoking policy? Can service users buy cigarettes?
Llanarth Court is a non-smoking site. However, we do provide nicotine replacement therapy and facilitate vapes.
How is treatment accessed and funded?
We don’t take referrals directly from individuals and families. Instead, the first step will be for you to reach out to the person’s GP so that they can be referred and funded through the correct NHS channel. Depending on the type of support needed, this could include local authority funding, NHS funding, joint funding between the local authority and NHS, or direct payments. Please note, referrals for NHS or local authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.
Downloads
Welsh location guide
How to make a referral
Our customer service centre provides 24/7 support for NHS mental health enquiries and referrals. Our customer referral co-ordinators can support you from your first call right through to the enquiry conclusion, providing updates throughout the process. We offer 24/7 crisis referrals, fast access to bed availability and placements, and a single access point for end-to-end enquiry management.