Have you seen the building work going on at Michael Carlisle and wondered what is happening there? 

Building work has begun at the Michael Carlisle Centre on a ward to get it ready for service users and staff from Burbage ward to move to in April. 

The work is truly spectacular and puts the creation of a therapeutic environment at the heart of the development.

The improvements include:

• A revamped garden space with raised beds and a planting scheme designed with aromatherapy and relaxation in mind. 
• Improved staff rest facilities, including a kitchen with breakfast bar, microwave and fridge freezer - just in case staff are doing a long shift and want to be able to freeze a meal. 
• 12 bedrooms with anti-ligature furniture, as well as new special door top alarms with full anti-barricade, privacy glass that can be closed on both sides. We are putting in a passport door lock system (similar to hotels) which will help us improve service user safety, privacy and dignity. 
• New windows with special safety glass installed to protect service users and reduce ligature risks. 
• Washing facilities with both showers and baths, we’ll even have products that service users can use to help them to relax.
• A lounge with comfy seating, French windows to allow access on to the garden, a TV and computer game consoles.
• Separate clinic and treatment rooms.
• A refreshed MDT room with staff refreshment facilities and wall mounted screen for meetings.

Dr Afif and Riann Parr, who will be the new ward manager of Burbage, took a tour of the building work about three weeks ago. Speaking after the visit Riann said: "I just can’t wait to get started. This will be an amazing new place for us to care for our service users. We have a fabulous team on Burbage ward and the facilities for service users will be just what we need to create a therapeutic environment."