Aspen Wood Low Secure LD Project – Mersey Care NHSFT/Gilling Dod Architects

Nominee Information

Aspen Wood is Mersey Care NHSFT’s (MCFT’s) new Low Secure Learning Disabilities Unit located on the Trust’s Maghull Health Park in Liverpool. Currently housed in not fit-for-purpose buildings 40 miles away at Whalley, the new building represents a complete redesign of the Service, the care environment and Trust approach, and as such, Service Users (SUs) were at the heart of the entire process from the outset influencing the design philosophy throughout.

The Service User engagement ‘journey’ has faced many challenges – Geographic relocation/disruption/anxiety, new ways of working/service design, prolongated process/funding delays/continuity, perceptions of a ‘secure’ site and a very broad acuity range/LD specific cohort group. Someresulting key features-

• Experts by experience included on the interview panel/selection process for the design/delivery team.
• SUs part of MCFT’s Design Champions forum, approving designs at all key milestones
• Early engagement with SUs at Whalley to understand key drivers/aspirations around the new service/environments.
• Tailored engagement techniques to suite an LD client group.
Activity-based/creative tasks/art/drawing/ montages. Appropriate medium used to suit LD client group. Artwork/murals, cartoons/pictograms. Ie not technical/wordy more visual. Appropriate sessions.
• SUs/clinical teams engaged in discussions re specific environment triggers around LD including sharing learnings from other sectors. Ie SEN schools.
• VR/animations/3d-modelling techniques maximized.
• Importance of face-to-face meetings, building relationships/trust in the design team/continuity of team. The outcomes from the extensive SU Engagement process directly informed the final design and the following innovations can be traced back to the initial conversations.
• Biophilic design approach including green lightwells/living walls/abundance of gardens, inside/outside threshold blurred, reference to nature in the interior design, sensory planting/coordinated landscape design. Building form/footprint is organic/plant like.
• Siting and approach.
• Transition zones created and spatial sequencing used in the building arrangement.
• Open circulation routes designed to aid wayfinding and avoid stressful interactions: ‘escape’ or ‘time-out spaces created on main thoroughfares.
• Visual markers/landmarks created to aid familiarisation/sense of place/views out.
• Café/social/forum space created to give incentives and motivation to come off ward/interact/develop social skills.
• Immersive therapy room, de-stim/sensory rooms, activity spaces created including ADL. Stimulate cognitive understanding and life skills.
• Interior and Landscape designs directly driven by SU engagement.

The Trust has continued the engagement process whilst the build process is ongoing. This was/is vital to maintain contact/impetus/ownership in the project. Key features of this include:
• Developed approach/learning following early engagement on Trust’s adjoining 2020 build.
• Early discussions of colour scheme, furniture design and name of service to reflect their lived experience.
• Ward names chosen in special discussions with Modern Matron
• Social media updates
• Interviewing artists to implement Art Strategy and create large scale public art for site.
• Co-producing film with Trust Communications Manager addressing their expectations and needs.
• Use of CG flythrough of finished design not photos of site under construction to manage anxieties about moving to a building site.
• SU visits planned well ahead of moving in
• Service User and Carer Lead holding weekly meetings on the ward and regular sessions with families, answering queries and bringing guest speakers
• Planning ahead for SU roles like ward or library rep.

< Back