Priory receives national recognition for transforming autism and learning disability care
Date: 19th December 2024
Priory has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in recognition of its work to transform care for autistic people and people with a learning disability in mental health settings.
The organisation is in the running for the Health Service Journal’s ‘best provider of mental health services’ at the inaugural Independent Healthcare Providers Awards which are incorporated with the HSJ Partnership Awards.
Some autistic people and people with a learning disability have high support needs which means they require full-time support, including hospital treatment in times of crisis – but some then remain in hospitals longer than they need to and this can be detrimental to their health.
Priory has made it a priority to start planning for the transition to a more suitable setting, and eventually to the community, from the moment of admission, working closely with NHS commissioners and providers, and local authorities across the country.
This has involved introducing pioneering innovations such as assessment and transition directors and bespoke therapeutic placements (BTPs) which, combined with comprehensive pathways between Priory’s health and social care facilities, are transforming care in mental health settings.
Over the past two years, two assessment and transition directors have overseen the transition of 85 patients with complex autism out of hospitals (run by Priory, the NHS and other providers) and into residential or supported living services.
In addition to this, Priory has established 19 BTPs which offer a less restrictive environment to meet the needs of people with complex autism within a clinical setting and provide a safe stepping stone for transition to community living.
BTPs are single occupancy, bespoke environments on hospital sites, purpose-designed around an individual’s needs and preferences including colours, patterns, designs, ‘black out’ areas, wet rooms, painting and images and customised outdoor areas.
One patient to benefit from a BTP, Peter, had been in multiple hospitals under a number of providers for 16 years before arriving at Priory Mildmay Oaks due to lack of community provision that could cater for his needs.
Under his assessment and transition director Michelle Widjaew, a placement in adult care was identified and, within 15 months, he was moved to Priory Radstock into a purpose-built and personalised self-contained flat – improving his quality of life and reducing care costs seven-fold.
Rebekah Cresswell, chief executive of Priory, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our work in the area of complex autism and learning disabilities in mental health settings as it really is transforming the lives of people who have often spent years moving within hospitals unable to live an independent life in the least restrictive way. We have found with this innovative pathway that we significantly reduce length of stay, with good outcomes. What is very special is seeing families happy and restored.
“It is a testament to the fantastic work of many colleagues across Priory’s healthcare and adult care divisions who have made seamless transitions between health and social care possible despite the complex nature of the situations they are managing.”
Winners will be announced during a joint HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards and HSJ Partnership Awards event at Evolution in London on 20 March 2025.
ENDS
Contact: [email protected]
About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 290 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 15 facilities and 2,100 beds caring for 11,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees across the group.