Introducing Linden Ward

Introduction

Welcome to this YourSpace area where you can find the latest news and information about the move to the Fairhaven assessment and treatment unit - which is now to be called Linden Ward.

The site is on Birch Avenue in Warrington. It is currently being refurbished and will have ten beds, as it does at its present location, with five male and five female beds. It will continue to be part of the Trust's Secure Services Division. It will become operational later this year.

In July 2024, the building refit is coming along well with the new extension complete and doors added internally. There is a staff room, a staff kitchen and an MDT room on site as well as lots of storage space. Some of the signage, similar to that for the MSU and LSU which was chosen with service users, has been installed. There are plans to develop the large garden area.

The whole environment at Linden Ward is being transformed into a spacious, fit for purpose facility for the revised service. The corridors are light and airy and there's good line of site.

Issues like alarms that are appropriate for the client group are being actively addressed. The model of care has been refreshed and this will be shared with stakeholders prior to the move.

SOPs (standard operating proceedures) are being developed for Linden Ward. Training, particularly about the new environment and building functions, will be offered for staff soon. The building will be ready well before service users arrive or transfer to allow for plenty of staff familiarisation time. We are working closely on making sure matters like car parking are clear and addressed for staff and the wider MDT on site.

If you have any queries related to the site, please email: LindenWardFAQ@merseycare.nhs.uk

Click on the image below to see a slideshow of photos showing progress on the interior of the site.

Naming engagement

It is important that public buildings are easily identifiable for all patients, staff and visitors. It is also important that national guidelines for NHS branding and corporate branding for Mersey Care forms an essential part of each building’s identity.

The team would like to thank everyone who contributed ideas to our online process in the spring; we heard from a good range of people, including staff and wider stakeholders.

The name Linden was chosen as a warm, natural and friendly identity which is easy to say and spell. It does not have links to people or places and is not in use locally for a similar health related function.

Latest news

New pictures of the development are being added to this site regularly.  Please check back for updates.

20 June 2024: Today the first new furniture for the site is being delivered and there's a lot of activity with tradespeople busy all around the build. Once the new furniture is set out, we'll post images of the rooms on this page.

5 July 2024: Furniture is on order. The fitting out of rooms is happening. Discussions with Byron Ward staff about the garden space and visiting the site are underway.

10 July 2024: Fitting out continues and staff visits are in the diary. There will be a period of checking of the site works (called 'snagging') in the next few weeks ahead of the site completion.

15 July 2024: Further staff visits have taken place and some of the signage has been installed.

22 July 2024: The new name for the ward - Linden - is announced.

We are also now working with advocacy and our carers' engagement lead on booklet information about the new service for when it opens. This will enable families and new admissions to be aware of what the site is all about and what the visiting process is.