We encourage the men in our care to make their own choices and live as independently as they are able to. To achieve this, we have developed our model of care in which the in-house multi-disciplinary team (MDT) adopt a values-based social model of disability with My Choice, My Voice, My Life sitting at the heart of the model.

Our service at a glance

Chestnut Court benefits from five independent living areas. Each flat offers a robust environment designed to provide a safe space for individuals who may exhibit behaviours of distress or have specific sensory needs. Each room will be personalised to accommodate preferences, strengths and abilities of each service user.

The team focus on enabling individuals to achieve three key targeted outcomes:

• Reduction in behaviours that challenge
• Increase in pro-social presentation
• Progress to out of hospital placements within lesser restrictive environments

Located a short drive from the centre of Colchester, individuals at the service will have access to a wide range of community facilities including Colchester Zoo, Colchester Football Club, parks and shopping facilities. The wards at Cygnet Hospital Colchester often come together to celebrate seasonal festivals, hold awareness events and enjoy parties.

Our service user profile:

• Men, aged 18+ years
• Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and learning disability
• Individuals will have additional complex needs including co-morbid mental illness, behaviours that challenge, epilepsy, ADHD, personality disorder, significant impairment in social and adaptive functioning
• Individuals may be informal or may be detained under the Mental Health Act /Deprivation of Liberty safeguards

Our facilities:

• 5 flats, each flat includes lounge, bedroom and en-suite shower room
• Communal kitchen
• Communal dining room
• Activity room
• Sensory room
• Communal garden
• On-site gym
• Communal bathroom