Mission Statement
“To provide support, education, rehabilitation, and quality nursing care in a therapeutic environment. We ensure that children and adolescents return to the community with improved coping skills through the provision of structured activities and psychotherapy from each member of the team”
The Child and Adolescent Unit was opened in 1979 to provide an optimum level of care for children and adolescents who were experiencing behavioural and psychiatric disorders. The Unit at the time accommodated ten (10) to twelve (12) male patients. The admission age was fourteen (14) to eighteen (18) years. Female patients were not admitted due to lack of sleeping quarters for them.
The ward has two dormitories, each with twelve beds, one for boys and one for girls and admits patients ranging in age from six (6) to eighteen (18) years. Each dorm has bathrooms, a Nurse’s Station and Doctor’s Office, Patients’ Kitchen and Dining Room, Day and Visiting Room, and a courtyard for patient activities.
Objectives
- To enable the child and/or Adolescents to return to their families and communities with improved coping skills.
- To promote the concept of the therapeutic community by ensuring that appropriate interactions is provided for all patients and including them in the decision-making process as much as possible on the unit.
- To encourage the active participation of relatives, guardians and significant others in the care and rehabilitation of patient, which will ensure a satisfactory return to their communities.
- To maintain consistency in all aspects of patient care.
- To provide opportunities in all aspects of patients care.
- To modify the treatment programme as necessary to reflect the trends of the regional and international treatment community.
Diagnosis
- Conduct Disorder
- Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Manic Depressive Disorder
- Mental Retardation
- Depression and Suicidal
- Substance Abuse (Marijuana, Alcohol, and Cocaine)
Therapeutic Team
- Psychiatrist
- Psychiatric Trained Nurses:
- Nursing Officers (N.O.)
- Registered Nurses (RN)
- Trained Clinical Nurses (TCN)
- Nursing Auxiliaries
- Social Workers
- Occupational Therapists
- Recreational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologists
- Male Attendants
Services Offered
- Individual Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Medication
- Drug Treatment
- Recreational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Spiritual Awareness
- Groups to enhance and reinforce positive peer interaction and positive behavioral changes
- Ensuring positive behavior modification is always in place
- Education classes are offered on a daily basis to the child and adolescent patients to ensure that their education standards are maintained. The classes are taught by teachers who are trained in special education.
Source of Referrals
- The Juvenile Court
- Community Counseling & Assessment Centre (Psychiatric and Drug Clinic)
- Department of Social Services
- Accident and Emergency, Princess Margaret Hospital
- Family Island Clinics and Courts
- Child Guidance (Ministry of Education)
- Willamae Pratt Centre for Girls
- Simpson Penn Centre for Boys
- Children’s Home
Family Responsibilities
- To visit regularly
- To participate fully in the patients treatment program.
- Attend patient conferences during patient’s admission.
- Attend family educational sessions.
- To become educated about the child’s condition.
- To cooperate with therapeutic team in the treatment process.
- To ensure compliance with medication and follow up on discharge.
It is the wish of the Child and Adolescent to provide their clients with all the love, comfort and luxuries that children enjoy at home.
Visiting Hours
Daily: Holidays and Weekends:
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
For additional information or to inquire how you can assist, please contact us
Contact Information
Child & Adolescent Unit
Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre
P. O .Box FH-14383
Fox Hill Road
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 364-9684
Fax: (242) 324-3922