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Acorn Lodge Children's Unit

How our service can help you

We offer assessment and treatment for children aged between four and 12 years old, who have a wide range of severe emotional or behavioural disorders

This includes neurodevelopmental disorders and very early-onset psychosis. We adopt a flexible model, allowing us to accept emergency admissions.

Acorn lodge is temporarily closed

Our unit works closely with families to understand their child's needs, the impact of the child on other family members, and of the family on the child.

Treatment at Acorn Lodge is based around a weekly, five-day model, allowing the child to spend the weekend at home, if possible. In some cases, children require a seven-day provision at certain stages during their admission to enhance their recovery. We believe this flexible model is very important for both the child and the family to help minimise the time away from home, and also to try interventions within a community setting.

Our staff are from a variety of specialised backgrounds, including child psychiatry, clinical psychology, nursing, social work and occupational therapy. Education is provided on site by specialist teaching staff at the Bethlem Royal Hospital school.

  • Service Type: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (National and Specialist) Service Borough Covers: National (Child and Adolescent services) Treatment type: Inpatient

  • Contact the service

    Site Location: Bethlem Royal Hospital Known As: Tyson House East Phone Number: 020 3228 4511 Fax Number: 020 3228 4399
  • Disabled Access:

    Yes, there is a lift for Acorn Lodge.
  • Address: Tyson East Two
    Bethlem Royal Hospital
    Monks Orchard Road,
    Beckenham,
    Greater London,
    BR3 3BX
  • Business Hours/Visiting Hours:

    24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    • Other essential information

  • Conditions: Anxiety, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism, Conduct disorder, Depression, Eating disorders, Learning disabilities, Neuropsychiatry, Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Personality disorders, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Psychosis

Interventions

Our interventions include:
 

  • Comprehensive mental state assessment
  • Autism assessment with the use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R)
  • Medical assessment and investigations
  • Psychometric assessment
  • Risk assessment
  • Physical health review and investigations
  • CBT
  • Individual behaviour therapy
  • Milieu therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Therapeutic play
  • Self-esteem work
  • Anger management
  • Anxiety management
  • Psychoeducation
  • Continued education
  • Medication review
  • Ward and school observations of the child’s behaviour to assist in determining the diagnosis and treatment
  • Support groups and counselling for parents and siblings

Eligibility criteria

  • Six to 12 year old
  • Male or female
  • Children with a known or possible diagnosis of:
  • developmental disorders including autism, hyperkinetic disorders and tic disorders
  • neuropsychiatric disorders as part of epilepsy
  • depressive disorders
  • eating disorders
  • very early-onset psychotic disorders
  • very early-onset bipolar disorders
  • obsessive compulsive disorder
  • anxiety and stress-related disorders
  • resistant and severe encopresis
  • complex diagnostic conditions
  • People local to the hospital may attend as day patients


Exclusion

  • Children with conduct disorders as their primary difficulty

Outcomes

Our outcomes include:

  • Formulation and diagnosis
  • Symptom reduction and resolution of presenting difficulty
  • Written admission and discharge summaries to referrers
  • Written care programme approach reviews and other reports as required (autism assessment, psychometric assessment) to referrers
  • Improved access to education
  • Improved general wellbeing
  • Support for families and carers
  • Advice and support for community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) teams

Care Options

Inpatient & Outpatient

 

Care option: Assessment and treatment 

Unit: Occupied bed days

Description: Assessment of clinical presentation including observations, ongoing mental state examination, physical examination, investigations as necessary and assessment of educational needs. Treatment includes psychological, family and educational interventions and medication. 

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