Inpatient care
Contemporary childhood
The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People will provide inpatient care for adolescents with serious mental illness who require hospital admission. It forms part of a range of inpatient services, providing care from childhood and at varying levels of security. The service has a long history of innovation and pioneered the introduction of a comprehensive emergency admission service.
The majority of the young people treated are emergency admissions, however planned admissions can also be arranged. Admissions are accepted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including admissions under the Mental Health Act.
Our clinical work
The inpatient unit provides a range of interventions, which are delivered by a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, teachers, occupational therapists, social workers and other mental health workers.
We maintain close links with the young person’s referring team to make sure they experience a smooth transition back to the community. Day treatment is often used as a stepdown service and can sometimes be used to avoid admission altogether.
The service is committed to principles of least restrictive practice, providing high quality care close to home and of supporting young people to maintain links with home, education and the community while receiving the mental health care to fulfil their potential.
Our vision for children and young people
The team is committed to integrating young people’s care into a community setting and breaking down barriers between inpatient and outpatient care. This means young people can receive the care they need as an inpatient, day patient or in the community. Treatment can be flexible depending on the patient and their family’s needs and requirements.
Our research work
Our clinicians and researchers are committed to increasing understanding of the young people treated in inpatient care. There are several team members who work within the King’s Maudsley Partnership to undertake both clinical work and research.
A recent study by researchers from the Trust, published in The Lancet Psychiatry found intensive community care for adolescent psychiatric patients reduces self-harm and improves reintegration into school.
Find out more
Read more about our research and key publications here.
