How our service can help you
The Croft Child and Family Unit is a 12-bed unit providing day and inpatient psychiatric services for children aged 0-12 years and their families. We are the only provider of NHS inpatient mental health services for children in the region.
Below are some brief details about our service. However, if you would like a more in-depth view of what our service offers, please visit our microsite at this link here: https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/thecroft
Where we are
The Croft is located on the Ida Darwin site near Fulbourn village, about four miles south of Cambridge city centre.
Opening hours
We are open seven days a week, including during school holidays. Most children and families at the unit attend Monday to Friday, returning home at weekends. This allows families the opportunity to practice new strategies in their home environment at the weekend. Some children and families may need support seven days a week at the beginning of their admission, with the aim of progressing to being here five days a week as soon as they are able to do so.
What we do
The unit provides assessment and treatment for children with complex developmental or psychiatric disorders and children presenting with severe emotional and behavioural problems. We also provide parenting capacity assessments for families referred to us by social services. By working in partnership with parents and offering a range of approaches we can achieve in weeks what may take months in a community setting. We aim to make positive changes for children and families in situations where problems have not responded to previous support.
How do we do it
Children are usually admitted with a parent/carer and sometimes with other members of their family for a period of six to eight weeks. We work in partnership with parents in an intensive way holistically addressing all aspects of the childs functioning. We also provide a day patient service for children who live locally and do not require 24 hour treatment or observation. In particular circumstances some children stay at The Croft on the own.
Contact the service
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Croft Child and Family Unit
Block 21
Ida Darwin Hospital
Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5EE
Team Email: cpm-tr.CPFT-Croft@nhs.net Phone Number: 01223 534500 - Business Hours/Visiting Hours: Family members are welcome to visit you at anytime during your stay, friends are welcome too, just check with a member of staff. Children are expected to stick to their timetabled activities so its best to limit visitors until after school at 3:15pm.
Referral Information
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The Croft encourage services thinking of making a referral to contact us directly by phone (01223 534500) to discuss the potential referral.The Croft Child and Family Unit is a nationally commissioned specialist service. This means that we are one of a number of services around the country that provide inpatient mental health care and treatment for children. All of these services are commissioned through NHS England rather than through local health commissioners (CCGs) although this may change in the future. Referrals are made by completing and submitting the national Referral Form (see foot of page for link) into inpatient services for children and young people. This form should be sent to the Croft team via email: cpm-tr.CPFT-Croft@nhs.net The form should also be sent to the appropriate national commissioner case manager. The Croft team are happy to discuss any potential referrals by phone prior to referral for advice. If a child 12 or under urgently needs admission then referrers are encouraged to use the national bed finding website to identify a unit which has a bed available. For urgent referrals to our service we request that the referring clinician calls the unit directly (01223 534500) to discuss the referral as well as sending the national form. If a senior clinician is not immediately available to discuss the referral they will return the call within 4 hours.
Where to park and are there parking charges?
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Parking on site - no parking charges
Is there access and support for patients and visitors with a disability?
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Yes, our clinical bases are accessible. Please ring the team before your appointment to discuss any requirements.
How to cancel your appointment
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Phone or email the ward
Carers Information
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A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
At Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, we value the often life-long support carers provide and recognise them as equal care partners. We want to offer as much guidance and reassurance as possible, to help you in your caring role. You can find general information and support for adult carers, young carers and parent carers by following this link.