The Brenchley Unit

The Brenchley Unit, established in 1999, is a fully accredited member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Quality Network, The Community of Communities.

The team provides specialist therapeutic community treatment for people with severe or complex personality difficulties.  

Following assessment, service users attend a weekly therapy group for one year in their local area, before moving on to the Therapeutic Community. The community group offers a years’ group-based therapy programme for up to 24 members at any one time and runs three days a week. The community is based at Oakapple lane, close to Maidstone Hospital.

Much work is put into making the unit feel welcoming and comfortable. There are a number of group rooms including an art studio, a well equipped kitchen and a lovely garden. A mixture of talking and creative therapy groups run each day. Unstructured, free time to socialise and eat together is also considered to be an important part of the treatment.

After completing the year in the Therapeutic community, a once weekly leavers group is offered to prepare people for the next steps in their lives and, discharge. This group lasts for a further year.

Training, consultation and advice is also available to other healthcare professionals.

Connected

Click here to find out about former Brenchley Unit patient, Penny, who throughout her ongoing journey to recovery has joined the team as an Expert by Experience. Read about it on page 14 of the Spring 2019 edition of Connected.