Building for better care - Our new mental health inpatient services
Delivering high quality mental health care and treatment is fundamental to what we do as a Trust. We committed to develop three new mental health inpatient services in Guildford, Chertsey, and east Surrey because we want to provide the best in mental health care. Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford, opened in December 2015, and following its completion, our focus moved to Silverwood, our new mental health inpatient service currently under construction on the former Abraham Cowley Unit (ACU) site on St. Peter’s Hospital campus in Chertsey.
Silverwood’s countdown to completion
Despite severe storms and above-average rainfall earlier this year, which significantly delayed progress, the building's construction is targeted to finish by the end of 2024, with an opening scheduled for early 2025. The service will open slightly later than originally planned due to these external factors and a decision to enhance the building’s cooling solution.
Preparation for this new service remains focused on a smooth and safe opening with a sustained drive on our recruitment efforts. Regular checkpoints remain in place to monitor construction progress until the building is complete and ready to open. Progress will continue at pace in the coming months, and we remain dedicated to delivering Silverwood to the highest standards.
Graham Wareham, Chief Executive of our Trust said: “Our ambition to establish a state-of-the-art mental health inpatient service in Chertsey is a cornerstone of our Trust's strategic vision. It will make a tremendous difference to the people who need our care at the most vulnerable times in their lives. It’s a hugely exciting project.”
Construction progress steams ahead
Excitement is building as Silverwood’s construction charges ahead! Another major milestone was recently achieved - the building's power supply was successfully switched on and the water is plumbed in, marking a significant step forward. Inside, the transformation is well underway, with walls and ceilings prepped and mist-coated, while most of the floors are ready for their final finish with only the staircase lobbies remain to be completed.
Externally, splashes of colour are now visible as the exterior of Silverwood begins to take shape and the scaffolding starts to come down. Outdoor spaces including the ward gardens are also coming together. On the roof, the installation of solar panels is nearly finished, helping Silverwood contribute to a greener future. The progress is truly exciting as Silverwood rapidly comes to life!
You can see the construction progress in our latest timelapse video and in the images below.
Courtyard View from the rear of Silverwood View of Therapies department
Ward bedroom corridor Central amenity garden
Lived Experience Group continues to help shape Silverwood
We held our latest Lived Experience Group event in August where we shared the latest programme news and updates. We also explored opportunities for people with lived experience to help us shape a series of workshops that will equip colleagues with essential knowledge about delivering care in Silverwood.
We provided updates on a couple of areas - the seclusion space, which is used when it’s necessary to contain behaviours which are likely to cause harm to others and the sensory space.
Lastly, we discussed the various ways in which people with lived experience can be involved with the Trust. As usual, there was lots of opportunity for discussion and questions.
You are welcome to attend these events if you’ve used our services in the past, are a family member or carer of someone who has, have an interest in mental health, or work for our Trust. Please come along to share your ideas and challenge our thinking.
Information about future meetings are available on the Trust’s website: Engagement and consultation : Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (sabp.nhs.uk)
Silverwood's recruitment drive nearing completion
Recruitment for Silverwood is in full swing, and we're making great strides towards filling all our ward positions. Thanks to great attendance at job fairs across London and successful internal open days, we're closing in on the staffing levels we need for Silverwood. We've fully recruited for Band 3 Senior Health Care Assistant roles and Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialists, and we're excited to introduce new Nurse Associate apprenticeship opportunities.
However, we're still on the hunt for a few key team members. We're actively recruiting for roles like Ward Manager, Psychologist, Dieticians, and Occupational Therapists, and we hope to have these positions filled soon. For those stepping into roles at Silverwood, it’s a fantastic opportunity to be involved at the start of this exciting new inpatient service and be part of a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team, with robust support in place for career progression. Momentum is building, and we're eager to complete our team!
Silverwood will benefit from the collective expertise provided by existing Surrey and Borders staff, many of whom were redeployed following the ACU closure, alongside a new wave of highly skilled recruits. We're committed to fostering a strong ‘one team’ culture at Silverwood, and to help make that a reality, we've launched an organisational development programme focused on areas such as innovative ways of working and team building designed to unite and empower a one team approach.
For more information on Silverwood’s recruitment opportunities, please visit our careers pages.
Contact us:
If you have any questions, you would like more information or to sign up for an event, please get in touch. You can contact the team at: newhospitals@sabp.nhs.uk