A NEW “fit-for-purpose” building for Jersey’s Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service was opened recently.
The new centre has been designed to improve the experience for young people and their families after complaints that the old building at Liberté House on La Motte Street was too stuffy, did not provide enough privacy and not accessible.
Assistant Children’s Minister Malcolm Ferey and associate director of mental health Dr Darren Bowring opened the new facility at Bermuda House on Green Street.
Services started to be moved to Bermuda House in July, with the Health Department stating the building will provide better support for both children and staff.
Delivering a speech before the ribbon was cut, Dr Bowring explained that the old building presented a “challenge” for those using it.
“It was too hot and the rooms were converted from office space. Children and young people pointed out the fact that children coming for appointments would see their friends walking past,” he said.
“We had one waiting room, ultimately downstairs, where everybody waited, and you could potentially see other people you knew.”
Dr Bowring said that the old building was not “particularly accessible” for car parking or public transport adding that the space outside Bermuda House would be designed in consultation with young people and that the space will help reduce the “anxiety” while waiting for appointments.
He said that a number of young people raised concerns that they would often see people they knew when going for their appointments at Liberté House, so work was done to ensure that the new facility would have access to outdoor space, parking and more than one waiting room.
“We asked ‘how can we make that outdoor space be conducive to reducing anxiety and being a pleasant place to wait as you come in?’
“Children and families can wait outside for their appointments going forward.”
Deputy Ferey said that the idea for Bermuda House was to create something that was more “warm, friendly and inviting”, in contrast to the old building which had previously been a bank.
“We don’t want there to be any barriers at all to a child or a young person seeking help, and there is no stigma to seeking help,” he said. “You’ve now got an environment which almost feels in parts like a home”.
Deputy Ferey said that he would love to see the outside space be an environment which helps young people and their families feel more comfortable while waiting for their appointment or consultation.
“Sometimes children and young people turn up on their own, they’re frightened sometimes. They don’t know what’s happening to them,” he added.
“You want that environment to really work for them and be a nice place to wait.”
The new building is next to Green Street carpark and includes 17 spacious clinical rooms.
