Priory Hospital Chelmsford young people's services
- Private adolescent service in Essex
- Support for young people aged 12 to 17
- Highly qualified specialists
Situated in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex, Priory Hospital Chelmsford provides specialist inpatient care for young people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. Our dedicated young people's inpatient service, sometimes referred to as private child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), supports up to 12 young people and delivers expert, compassionate care within a safe and supportive environment.
The service, based on Willow Ward, provides evidence-based treatment for 12 to 17-year-olds through flexible, person-centred programmes, delivered in surroundings designed specifically with young people in mind.
Alongside inpatient care, we also offer:
- Outpatient therapy for children and young people aged 4 to 17
- Day care services for young people aged 12 to 17, who would benefit from more structured support than outpatient therapy, while continuing to live at home and maintain their usual routines
- Day hospital treatment programmes for young people aged 12 to 17, who require a more intensive and structured level of support than outpatient therapy or day care, but who do not require inpatient admission
In summary, Priory Hospital Chelmsford offers flexible CAMHS treatment pathways including outpatient therapy, day care, day hospital and inpatient support, allowing young people to access the level of care that best meets their individual needs.
We provide:
- A safe, holistic environment for young people to rest and recover, while being supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists led by experienced consultant psychiatrists
- Treatment is tailored to each young person and includes a range of therapy modalities, alongside education during term time at our outstanding on-site school
- Access through self-pay or private medical insurance
Contact us
Priory Hospital Chelmsford Stump Lane Springfield Green Chelmsford Essex CM1 7SJ
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Flexible Essex-based mental health treatment for young people
At Priory Hospital Chelmsford, we provide flexible, evidence-based inpatient treatment for young people experiencing a range of mental health challenges.
Each young person receives a tailored therapy plan built around their individual needs, circumstances, and goals, ensuring the care they receive is both person-centred and highly effective.
Our young people's inpatient service has been created specifically for young people who may be experiencing:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
- School-related anxiety, including school phobia and school refusal
- Emotional instability or difficulty managing emotions
We also offer assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, with tailored one-to-one therapy available after diagnosis. As a trusted provider of specialist inpatient mental health services for young people, we’re dedicated to delivering the highest standard of care in a supportive, age-appropriate setting - helping each young person feel safe and understood.
Inside Willow Ward
Willow Ward has been carefully designed to offer a calm, welcoming and therapeutic environment for young people receiving inpatient care. We understand how important surroundings are in supporting recovery, and our modern facilities provide a safe and nurturing space where each young person can focus on their wellbeing and personal growth.
The ward features bright, modern spaces and 12 comfortable, single-occupancy bedrooms with en-suite facilities. As well as shared areas that encourage positive interaction and promote wellbeing, recovery and personal growth.
Housed within a beautiful Grade II listed 19th-century building, the hospital is set within three acres of private gardens, offering a calm and therapeutic setting for recovery.
Our young people’s inpatient service includes:
- A bright, purpose-built ward designed specifically for young people
- Comfortable communal areas that encourage social connection and relaxation
- Daily housekeeping and high standards of cleanliness
- Nutritious, freshly prepared meals and quality catering options
- Access to snacks and drinks at any time
- Modern, en-suite bedrooms that offer comfort, privacy and a sense of security
- A variety of leisure activities, including games, reading materials, puzzles and a TV, to support relaxation and recovery
- An outdoor courtyard for our young people to relax and spend time in
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Day care and day hospital services for young people at Priory Hospital Chelmsford
Alongside our inpatient CAMHS services, we also offer both day care and day hospital programmes for young people who need additional mental health support while continuing to live at home.
Both pathways help young people manage their mental health difficulties within a safe and therapeutic environment, while maintaining connections with family, education and daily life.
Day care for young people
Our day care service offers a flexible therapeutic pathway for young people who would benefit from additional clinical support, while remaining in their usual home and school environment.
Day care can help bridge the gap between outpatient therapy and inpatient treatment, providing regular therapeutic input, emotional support and practice coping strategies without overnight admission.
The programme may include:
- Individual and group therapy
- Family support
- Emotional wellbeing support
- Coping skills development
Psychiatric reviews and medication monitoring where appropriate
Day care includes 1.5 hours of online group therapy each week, as well as a weekly 1 hour one-to-one therapy session. These sessions can take place online or face-to-face, depending on location and preference.
Day hospital for young people
Our day hospital service provides a more intensive level of therapeutic support for young people who require more structured care than outpatient therapy alone, but do not require inpatient admission.
Young people can attend on a full-day or half-day basis across the week, depending on their individual needs.
Treatment may include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Emotional regulation
- Stress management and coping skills development
- Physical health monitoring
- Group and individual therapy sessions
- Psychoeducation and wellbeing activities
Young people can attend between 1 and 5 days per week, depending on their needs.
Education is also embedded within the programme, with targeted support to help young people manage:
- School attendance and reintegration
- Academic pressures
- Anxiety around exams and assessments
Both services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team, with co-ordinated input from psychiatry, nursing and therapy staff. Treatment focuses on stabilisation, increasing emotional wellbeing and reducing mental distress, while helping young people build practical skills they can use in everyday life. Clear care planning supports smooth transitions into step-down services and ongoing community-based care.
We use recognised outcome measures, including the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA), to track progress and support continual improvement in wellbeing.
Treatment approaches
Therapy options
At Chelmsford, our experienced clinicians deliver a wide range of evidence-based therapies for young people, offered through both individual and group sessions. Depending on each young person’s needs, therapy can take place face-to-face or remotely via secure online platforms, ensuring flexible access to care.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together a wide range of professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, a social worker and a family therapist. They work alongside assistant practitioners and specialist therapists to ensure that each person receives care tailored to their specific needs, supported by our dedicated nursing and medical teams who provide co-ordinated, holistic care.
Using a holistic bio-psycho-social model, we focus on the whole person – their mental, emotional and social wellbeing – to create a truly rounded recovery experience. Every treatment plan is structured around clear goals, guided by thorough assessment and tailored to the individual to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Therapies available:
- CBT
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-focused CBT
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
Core therapeutic interventions include:
- Weekly one-to-one sessions with a psychologist or therapist
- Weekly check-in with a psychologist
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Regular keyworking sessions with a named nurse
- Medication reviews
At Willow Ward, our goal is to combine expert clinical treatment with a compassionate, age-appropriate environment – helping young people regain stability, build resilience and move forward with hope and confidence.
Accessing treatment
You can access high quality treatment at Chelmsford by:
- Visiting your GP, who will be able to refer you to us. This can be through PMI, via medical secretaries or through any known Priory contacts
- Contacting Priory Hospital Chelmsford directly
Our admissions team at Chelmsford respond to all enquiries as promptly as possible, to ensure that people can access the best possible support, when they need it.
Referrals are reviewed by our multidisciplinary team, which includes a doctor, nurse, and psychologist, to determine the most appropriate next steps. If we need additional information, we may gather this through an email or phone call.
We may also consult with other professionals involved in your child’s care to ensure a co-ordinated and supportive approach to the proposed plan
For further information on how our young people's mental health inpatient service at Priory Hospital Chelmsford can help young people to overcome their mental health concerns, call us today and our dedicated team will be able to advise on the next steps to receiving treatment.
As a trusted psychiatric hospital for teenagers, we're here to support young people through every stage of their recovery.
Education provision
Alongside therapeutic treatment, young people at Priory Hospital Chelmsford have access to high-quality on-site education, available during term time. Our dedicated teaching team understand the challenges that can come with learning during recovery and provide a nurturing, structured environment where each young person can continue their studies with confidence.
Lessons are delivered in small, supportive groups and are tailored to individual abilities and needs, helping students maintain academic progress while also developing key life skills and self-belief.
Key features of our education provision:
- Ofsted-registered and fully approved learning environment
- Individualised teaching, with 1:1 support available where required
- Personal development sessions integrated into the timetable, covering topics such as career guidance, social skills and emotional wellbeing