Hampstead Hospital & Residential Treatment Facility: Child & Adolescent Specialty Services
Hampstead Hospital & Residential Treatment Facility provides intensive, acute, inpatient and residential treatment for serious psychiatric and behavioral disorders for children and adolescents.
Our facility provides individualized, behavioral programming based on both cognitive functioning and psychiatric need. Two distinct treatment programs, the Acute Psychiatric Unit and the Intensive Behavioral Unit, provide treatment for over 40 children and adolescents.
Our Treatment Team members determine the best program to meet the unique and varied needs of our patients. Several factors are taken into consideration when determining the best program. These factors include the child’s cognitive functioning level, age level, treatment goals, and individual behaviors. The programming we provide can vary from day to day as we make adjustments frequently to best meet the needs of our ever-changing populations. Ongoing observation will ensure that the programming is best suited for the youth throughout their hospitalization.
- Over 40 beds for children and adolescents ages 3 to 18
- 24-hour nursing care
- Full psychiatric evaluation
- Small, individualized treatment groups
- Structured, consistent daily routine
- Family involved care
- Daily medication management and monitoring
- Crisis and safety planning
- Aftercare planning with referrals
Treatment Team members include:
- Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
- Licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
- Masters Level Social Workers
- Board Certified Behavior Analysts
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Mental Health Counselors
- Mental Health Aides
Hampstead Hospital & Residential Treatment Facility’s Acute Psychiatric Unit is a 23-bed secure inpatient treatment program that provides stabilization for children and adolescents ages 10 to 18. We treat a wide variety of mental health issues including depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, intent to harm, anxious distress, dysregulated behaviors and neurodevelopmental disorders. Many of our patients may struggle with anger management and present with disruptive behaviors at home or school.
Our goal is to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for our patients while working collaboratively with families and outpatient supports to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Programming
A consistent treatment approach, a safe environment, and constant monitoring of behaviors is critical when working with children and adolescents in crisis. Our group programming focuses on building skills that may be impaired due to existing mental health issues.
Group programming is a daily focus for our patients during their stay.
Some of our therapeutic group programming includes:
- Safety Planning
- Identifying and Practicing Positive Coping Skills
- Stress Management
- Healthy Boundaries
- Anger Management
Additional activities and creative outlets are scheduled throughout the day for our patients. These additional groups and activities help with positive peer interactions, build self-esteem, and improve problem-solving skills. These activities include exercise, positive self-care, and cooperative games.
The Intensive Behavioral Unit at Hampstead Hospital & Residential Treatment Facility is a 16-bed secure inpatient treatment program that provides stabilization for children and adolescents ages 3 – 18 with serious behavioral concerns and/or developmental delays. A specialized approach is needed when addressing the psychiatric needs of this population.
Our patients may experience a serious change in mood or behaviors that have greatly interfered with their daily functioning. Common diagnoses that we treat include ADHD, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and other Mood Disorders. Many of our patients have significant delays and may be on the Autism Spectrum. They can exhibit behaviors such as severe aggression, self-injury, and property destruction.
Intensive Behavior Support
The program offers Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) consults. After the behaviors of concern are identified the BCBA will track, organize, and interpret the behavioral data that allows them to develop recommendations for further treatment. Additionally, the BCBA can offer meetings to families to discuss behavioral interventions to be completed within the home. This “parent training” is crucial for families as they prepare for their child’s return to a less restrictive environment. This may also include direct collaboration with schools, community-based providers, and state agencies.
Under the direction of a BCBA, the team implements behavior change interventions that include the least restrictive approaches, positive behavior supports, and teaching alternative behaviors. These individualized goals are then considered when a child’s group programming needs are developed.
Programming
Structured therapeutic activities are designed to develop and maintain adaptive behaviors, coping skills, and social skills. Our program provides a higher number of staff than on traditional psychiatric units. This ratio allows for smaller grouping of patients, therefore maximizing their individualized treatment needs.
Some of our specialized programming includes:
- Conflict Resolution
- Anger Management
- Independent Leisure Skills
- Effective Communication
- Positive Coping Skills
- Safety Planning
- Self-care
Our Treatment Team collaborates with the pre-hospitalization team, including the school, to identify aftercare needs early in the hospitalization.
Family involvement is crucial during a child’s hospitalization. An initial assessment will help identify the nature of the patient’s needs, the impact on the family, and the goals for hospitalization. Our team works closely with the family and with pre-hospitalization treatment providers to identify aftercare needs early in hospitalization. Social workers work with the patient, family, and the outpatient teams to coordinate aftercare services and a successful transition at the time of discharge.