Program Overview
The Unit provides specialized, interdisciplinary inpatient services for children and adolescents requiring assessment, consultation, and intervention/treatment for known or suspected psychiatric disorders in a safe and well supervised milieu that has been structured to provide as normal an environment as possible. The environment includes a common kitchen, a television, and a games room as well as opportunities to attend the Ruth MacMillan Centre day treatment program which is used to extend Inpatient assessment to a school milieu. There are four single bedrooms, four double bedrooms, an isolated infection-control room, and a seclusion room to help assure the safety of all individuals on the unit.
The Unit provides services typically for children and adolescents with the most severe and complex disorders who are often at imminent risk of harming themselves or others by virtue of their mental illness. This includes children and adolescents with psychosis, bipolar and depressive disorders, incapacitating anxieties, and emergent personality disorders.
The Canadian Council on Health Services in the 2004 Accreditation Survey Report cited the RCPC Inpatient Unit as an example of leading practice because, "The Regional Children's Psychiatric Centre has a highly developed, exemplary interdisciplinary model of service delivery. The model is conceptually sophisticated. Delivery is collaborative, effective and supportive of patients, family and colleagues. The team shares its expertise generously and regularly works intensively in community settings together with parents and other providers to show people how to change their behaviour so they can be more effective with children with complex needs."
Eligibility
Target population is children and adolescents under 18 years of age with known or suspected mental illness. Children and adolescents with infectious illnesses or those requiring physical care are not admitted until they are medically cleared by a physician prior to admission. Except for Form 1 admissions all other admissions must occur under conditions of appropriate consent that is provided by a capable child or adolescent or their substitute decision maker.
Referral Process
Referrals are accepted by a referral worker during working hours (8:30 to 4:30) from primary and secondary care mental health agencies, family physicians, or other mental health professionals. Admission decisions are made by psychiatrists during working hours. After working hours and on weekends referrals are accepted and admission decisions made by doctors on call. Families and partner care providers are invited and encouraged to participate from referral to assessment, to treatment and discharge.
Geographic Area
Northeastern Ontario from Hudson Bay and Cochrane Districts in the North and West to the Quebec border and Muskoka to the East and South.
Waiting Period
No waiting period for Form 1 admissions requiring Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit psychiatric assessment. Variable waiting periods for other referrals are typically within days for more urgent cases and within weeks for voluntary planned admissions that take additional time to meet and plan effectively with community partners and families.
Language of Service
English and French.