A cutting-edge youth mental health center opens its doors in Northamptonshire
A new, first-class facility dedicated to supporting young people facing mental health challenges has launched. Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) confirmed that The Sett, an inpatient unit, is now operational at Berrywood Hospital in Duston, Northampton. The purpose-built centre includes an activity room, informal communal spaces, classrooms, a therapy room, a kitchen, outdoor areas, and comfortable bedrooms designed for young residents.
Dr Tiff Webster, NHFT’s director of children and young people’s services, explained that The Sett was created with young people’s needs in mind, combining therapy, education, and relaxation all under one roof.
Previously situated at a different site in nearby Upton, The Sett’s relocation to Berrywood places it adjacent to NHFT’s other child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) inpatient unit, The Burrows. The two units together provide 20 beds for young people requiring inpatient care in a safe environment, NHFT notes.
Award-winning design and strong collaboration
Dr Webster praised the team at The Sett for consistently delivering high-quality care and support. With the move to Berrywood, the unit now benefits from closer access to the hospital’s broader support network, facilitating closer collaboration to deliver the best possible experiences and outcomes for young people.
Marie James, NHFT’s service manager for inpatient CAMHS, shared that young people were involved in the design process from the start. Their feedback emphasized that the space should not feel clinical or hospital-like. Architects in turn embraced this request, creating a brighter, more open atmosphere that stands apart from the rest of the hospital and aligns with what the youth wanted.
The Sett’s design and construction, carried out by Fleet Architects and T&B Contractors, earned three design awards at the national Building Better Healthcare Awards ahead of its opening last month.
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