April 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 7
recovery groups to encourage people to look
forward and put plans in place to achieve their
goals, and art therapy to allow them to
communicate and understand difficult
feelings in a safe environment.
Members of local Narcotics Anonymous
(NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
fellowships also visit, providing invaluable
links to ongoing support in the community.
OUR APPROACH
Each person’s admission plays an important
part in their journey towards recovery. While
staying with us, our unique care planning helps
people look at all aspects of their life – from
basic essentials such as finances and
accommodation to health needs, emotions and
communication – and identifies key areas that
they need to address as a priority. Regardless of
how far people get with that process, we see
the positives in their admission and offer as
much help and support as we can.
Promotional feature
Windmill House is a specialist unit
in Chertsey, Surrey, which provides
24-hour residential treatment and
support to adults over 18 who want
to become abstinent from drugs or
alcohol.
As well as standard detoxification from
single or multiple substances, we are expert in
managing individuals with complex needs
such as mental ill-health, eating disorders or
self-harm, pregnancy and physical health
problems, as well as learning disabilities and
limited mobility.
The service is run by Surrey and Borders
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the leading
provider of health and social care services for
people with mental ill-health and drug and
alcohol problems in South East England.
WINDMILL HOUSE AT A GLANCE
On an acute hospital site in a semi-rural
location, adjacent to a district general hospital
with A&E, the unit offers its clients a
dedicated and experienced staff, with fully
accessible facilities, suitable for people with
limited mobility. Detoxification and
therapeutic programmes are available, as well
as 24-hour medical and nursing care.
Recovery planning is incorporated
throughout each individual’s stay, including a
full discharge plan agreed with the person and
their community key worker, and access and
links to statutory and non-statutory agencies
are a part of the care provided.
DETOXIFICATION
Everyone who comes to Windmill House
receives a full medical and physical
examination upon admission. This takes into
account their personal, medical and
psychiatric history, as well as their history of
substance misuse. It includes:
• Routine blood tests and any other
investigations required
• An ECG
• A chest x-ray
• A mental health assessment
• Testing and vaccination for blood-borne
viruses where appropriate
• Direct contact with the person’s GP to
verify their prescribed medication and
medical history
Based on these
results, our
medical team
devises a
detoxification
plan with the
person, which
starts as soon as
possible and is
individualised
according to their
specific needs.
Detoxification
can last between
seven and 28
days. Our medical
staff review the
individual’s plan
on a daily basis,
making regular
observations and
monitoring their
vital signs
throughout.
During detoxification, we encourage
people to attend our preparatory groups.
These help enhance people’s motivation to
remain abstinent and help them acknowledge
that they need to work on their recovery on a
daily basis, either at Windmill House or in the
community.
Our therapeutic programme groups are
designed to give people intense support, refresh
their life skills and provide opportunities to
meet others and share their experiences.
Here we focus on developing coping skills
and improving self-esteem. We provide
the surrey and Borders Partnership nHs Foundation trust talk
about the specialised, individualised support they offer
‘With all my heart, I would
like to thank the staff that
made it possible for me to
have the opportunity and
the support that has helped
me to get well and, more
importantly, stay well.’
WINDMILL HOUSE CLIENT
CARe At Windmill House
Client
satisfaction
on the
programme
Above:
Recovery tree
artwork by
a Windmill
House resident
‘Being at Windmill House
has opened my eyes to my
addiction and taught me the
basic things I need to keep
me safe and help me
manage my problems. It was
hard work but well worth it.
The service is excellent.’
WINDMILL HOUSE CLIENT
