How our service can help you
The Darwin Centre is the Tier 4 Inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT). The unit offers assessment and treatment to young people, aged 12-18, experiencing psychiatric, emotional or psychological problems that interfere with their social, interpersonal and educational functioning.
The Darwin Centre is a spacious single storey 14-bed unit, situated around five miles south of Cambridge City Centre in peaceful and pleasant surroundings. During a stay here, a full range of assessment and treatments are offered by our multi-disciplinary team. We are staffed by nurses with the support of a larger team of a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, an occupational therapist, a family therapist, teachers, healthcare assistants, a music therapist, a research assistant, a patient and parent involvement worker, activity coordinators, a dietitian and secretarial support staff.
Most patients come to the unit as informal residential patients, however we also have admissions of young people who are detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) or subject to other court orders. We work in partnership with young people, their families and local professionals to achieve the best outcomes. This pack is your guide to our inpatient service and We aim to provide a high quality, multi-disciplinary mental health service for young people experiencing severe emotional and/or mental health difficulties. We believe that young people struggling with severe mental illness cope better living in a family environment where possible, and so we work hard to ensure the inpatient segment of your recovery process is as short and as effective as possible.
We offer a holistic (consider the bigger picture) approach to the needs of the young people and their family, and work in close partnership with parents and/or carers. We aim to offer a variety of activities that make up the weekly programme, which we expect all young people to take part in (the weekly timetable is included in this pack). You are given opportunities to work both individually and as part of a group. We PRIDE ourselves on our ability to work closely and effectively with external childrens agencies and education in order to ensure that the needs of the young person are met both whilst in our care and after discharge.
Contact the service
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Darwin Centre
Block 19
Ida Darwin Hospital
Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5EE
Team Email: cpm-tr.CPFT-Darwin-centre@nhs.net Phone Number: 01223 534430 - Business Hours/Visiting Hours: Families are always welcome to the unit, however attendance of the therapeutic programme is an integral part of individuals care plan, therefore we would ask that visitors come between 5:00pm and 8:30pm during the week. At weekends visiting times are flexible. If you want to visit outside of these times we will do our best to support this. We ask parents/carers to let us know about any prospective visitors and planned visits.
Referral Information
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We are now nationally commissioned and accept all referrals that have been agreed with the local SCG commissioner. We are also able to accept urgent referrals pending agreement as long as the referral is accompanied by a signed Form 1 referral for access assessment (available to download at the bottom of this page under Further information). Please telephone us first on 01223 534430 to discuss your referral and check bed availability. All telephone referral must then be followed up with a completed NHSE Referral form,
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.