Forensic Services

A variety of Forensic Services provided by Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust

Humber Centre for Forensic Psychiatry

A medium secure hospital for patients suffering from mental disorders. Our services include assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

All patients at the Humber Centre are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and due to the nature of the unit some limitations are placed on patients, staff and visitors for clinical, health and safety reasons.

Services

The multidisciplinary team

The service is run by a ‘multidisciplinary team’ (MDT), which is a group of clinicians from different professional backgrounds. The team includes:
• medical and nursing staff
• occupational therapists
• art therapists
• psychologists
• social workers
• speech and language therapists
All clinical decisions are taken by the MDT and wherever possible we seek and value the views of patients, families and carers.
Sometimes decisions need to involve other agencies, such as courts or the Ministry of Justice and this can mean that progress can take a little longer.

Therapy and Treatment

Although we work very closely with the criminal justice system (police, courts and prisons), patients in the Humber Centre are here for assessment and treatment. As with any hospital, it is our aim to help patients on their journey to health.

We specialise in working with patients who have mental health problems, learning disabilities or a diagnosis of personality disorder and need treatment in a secure setting. We actively involve patients, families and carers in this process. Research shows that working together has lasting benefits for patients.

While all patients have access to fresh air garden and courtyard areas, leave outside the hospital is only given after careful consideration and risk assessment. This may involve consultation with other agencies including the Ministry of Justice.

Visits and other ways of communicating

Due to the very busy clinical timetable for patients, visits may need to be pre-booked. Visits are supervised, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that a staff member will always need to be in the room with you and visits which are not booked cannot be facilitated by staff. Although we endeavour to facilitate all visits, we may occasionally have to cancel or curtail visits.

There are restrictions on what can be brought into the hospital. This is to ensure the safety and security of everyone.

Skype is available as a means of communication between patients and their families and friends. Please discuss this with staff on the ward if you would like more details.

Carers

We understand the important role that carers play in the recovery of patients at the Humber Centre, and we also appreciate the need for support for carers.

We are currently reviewing our Carer Strategy, but in the meantime you can still contact us at HNF-TR.HumberCentreCarers@nhs.net

You said, we did.

In response to issues raised at carer events, we have recently;

• Increased frequency of the meetings to every other month
• Started a programme of ‘we call you’ – staff will ring you to find out how often you would like to be contacted for updates / support
• Reviewed our visits procedure to allow for more flexibility in visits, such as the option for some patients and visitors to share a meal, or to take photographs
• Begun to use teleconferencing for carer meetings, making it more accessible for people who live far away or cannot attend for other reasons

Chaplaincy

The Humber Centre provides spiritual and religious support for staff and patients.

Advocacy

Cloverleaf Advocacy Service has been helping people with mental health issues since 1995 and has provided an advocacy service at the Humber Centre since 2005. They offer independent one-to-one support and can enable patients to speak up and be listened to. More details are available in leaflets on the wards or by contacting Cloverleaf on 01482 880160. 

Contact Details

Switchboard: 01482 336200

Ward offices (and patients’ payphones)

Ouse: 01482 336238 (655646) 
Derwent: 01482 336239 (655719)
Darley House: 01482 336241 (655803)
Ullswater: 01482 478718
Swale: 01482 478722

Location

The Humber Centre for Forensic Psychiatry
Beverley Road
Willerby
East Yorkshire  
HU10 6ED