Skip to main content

Forest Independent Hospital

Southwell Road West, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4XX

Forest Independent Hospital

Southwell Road West, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4XX
View map

Key information

At a glance
  • We accept detained and non-detained patients
  • 15 male beds
  • 15 female beds
  • 30 total beds
  • Over 18 years of age

Partnerships

Male ward
  • Male
  • Over 18 years of age
  • Enduring and progressive mental health disorders
  • Acquired brain injury
  • Alcohol-related dementia (korsakoff’s)
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Behaviours that challenge
  • Dual diagnosis
  • Forensic history
  • Pick’s disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Working-age dementia
  • Cognitive impairment
Female ward
  • Female
  • Over 18 years of age
  • Enduring and progressive mental health disorders
  • Acquired brain injury
  • Alcohol-related dementia (korsakoff’s)
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Behaviours that challenge
  • Dual diagnosis
  • Forensic history
  • Pick’s disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Working-age dementia
  • Cognitive impairment

Case Study

A female patient was admitted to us from a PICU who had a diagnosis of Korsakoff’s.

Read case study.

Case study 2

A patient was admitted with complex behaviours and a type of dementia. 

Read case study 

Overview

Forest Independent Hospital is a modern, purpose-built facility based in Mansfield.  We provide treatment and care for patients who are informal, detained under the Mental Health Act, or require treatment and care under Deprivation of Safeguards.  Our admission criteria for male covers a variety of organic mental health conditions.  Our female admission criteria covers a variety of organic and/or enduring mental health conditions.

Forest Independent Hospital provides a safe, homely environment in which our patients can achieve their maximum potential. We facilitate this through open and honest communications with the patient, their family/carer, and all healthcare professionals involved in their care.

We aim to stabilise patients' mental health and reduce identified risks and behaviours which many challenge. We take a least restrictive approach to all interventions and promote and encourage positive risk taking.

We hold community meetings, best interest meetings, ward rounds and daily clinical meetings to inform care pathways. We have input from a range of community services including Advocacy, Community Falls Team, SALT, physiotherapists and translators.

Our objective is to provide a premium caring experience which promotes positive and timely discharge to a less restrictive environment. We enable individuals to regain control and independence where possible, and ensure that not only the individual, but their families and friends, are supported through challenging times.

Following an individual assessment, support plans are formulated collaboratively with the individual, family/carer and all professionals involved in their care. We believe this collaborative approach promotes a positive experience and outcomes for the individual throughout their time at Forest Independent Hospital.

We would like to help reduce the growing pressures on NHS acute and low secure services: we currently have both male and female adult beds available. For a wider conversation around capacity planning, or how we can support you and your patients at this current time, please contact Stella Bolger (Regional Director, Hospital Services) at stella.bolger@barchester.com or stella.bolger@nhs.net

Download a brochure

Click here to download our latest brochure to read at your leisure.

Get brochure

Our approach to care

Our approach

Meaningful therapeutic activities

Meaningful therapeutic activities

Meaningful therapeutic activities are vital to mental health and improving well-being and form part of our patients treatment plans. Meaningful activities should should help support the person in acquiring further problem-solving skills, social skills and self care techniques. Therapeutic activities are facilitated by appropriately trained health care professionals.

  • Image

    Why choose us

    Occupational Therapy

    Occupational therapy supports people whose health, environment or social circumstances make it difficult to take part in the activities that matter to them. An occupational therapist will work with you to identify strengths and difficulties you may have in everyday life.

  • Image

    Music Therapy

    Music Therapy

    Music Therapy is an established psychological clinical intervention, delivered by music therapists to help people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability through supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs.

  • Image

    Oomph Logo

    Oomph on Demand

    Oomph On Demand provides a flexible digital resource with tailored activity, exercise and TV content - all in one easy to use wellbeing platform.

  • Image

    Art Therapy

    Art Psychotherapy

    Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its main mode of expression and communication. Art therapists/art psychotherapists use art as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing.

Staff

Laura Stretton
Laura Stretton
Senior Hospital Director

I qualified as a mental health nurse in 2005 and have predominantly worked within secure mental health services.  Starting my career in high secure services and then moving to medium and low secure working with a range of patients with different needs starting as a deputy ward manager and working up to a modern matron and operational lead.  I then moved across to Forest Hospital in 2019 and have progressed from Hospital Director to Senior Hospital Director. I am passionate about patient care, having the right environment and ensuring patients families, friends and carers are fully supported and kept up to date.

Hannah Cooper
Hannah Cooper
Mental Health Act Administrator

Hannah started at Forest Hospital in August 2013 as a support worker.  Hannah then progressed to Mental Health Act Coordinator in September 2021.

Jerrie - Head Chef - Forest Hospital
Jerrie
Head Chef
Hi, I'm Jerrie and I'm the Head Chef here at Forest Hospital.
Polly Cartledge
Polly Cartledge
Administrator

Polly has worked with Barchester since February 2015 at Forest Hospital, starting in an apprenticeship scheme as an admin assistant.  Polly then progressed to the administrator for the hospital in May 2021 and is now the main administrator for the hospital.  

Amanda Templeman
Amanda Templeman
Senior Clinical Lead Nurse

Amanda is a qualified mental health nurse, qualifying in 2005.  Amanda has worked in rehabilitation settings supporting older adults with functional mental health conditions before coming to Forest Hospital.  Amanda is innovative and an excellent communicator.

Testimonials

I really hope that you all know what a difference you make in the lives of the people you care for, your care is outstanding

Relative, Forest Independent Hospital

Every single member of staff I have encountered are excellent the standard of care being delivered is something you should all be exceptionally proud of.

Relative, Forest Independent Hospital

Collaborations and partnerships

We hold community meetings, best interest meetings, ward rounds and daily clinical meetings to inform care pathways. We have input from a range of community services including Advocacy, Community Falls Team, SALT, physiotherapists and translators.

Following an individual assessment, support plans are formulated collaboratively with the individual, family/carer and all professionals involved in their care. We believe this collaborative approach promotes a positive experience and outcomes for the individual throughout their time at Forest Independent Hospital.

Make a referral

Professionals and families can use our quick referral form to apply for care..

Make a referral

Get in touch

Southwell Road West, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4XX

Visiting

We welcome visits from families and friends of our patients.

Make a referral

Patients are referred directly from an NHS Trust, CCG's, Community Mental Health Team's or Local Authorities. People referred to the hospital are offered a detailed pre-admission assessment to ensure they are suitable to our service and that we can provide the care and treatment to fully meet both their mental health and physical health needs. Following assessment and review of same by MDT the decision regarding admission and potential outcomes is made as quickly as possible. Both patients and their family members are encouraged to visit the hospital prior to admission.

Please complete the below form to make a referral

1. Referrer details

2. Patient details

3. Current placement details

Is the person detained under MHA?

4. Reason for referral

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

1. Your details

2. Patient's details

3. Current placement details

Is the person detained under MHA?

4. Reason for referral

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.