The Beacon

The Beacon, named to represent hope for a brighter future, was co-designed by staff from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) specialist CAMHS and young people. It is is one of four new mental health facilities for Leicestershire Partnership Trust. It offers a safe, welcoming and positive environment for individuals who need mental health inpatient care, supporting them, and their families, on the journey to recovery.

This project included a new CAMHS residential unit designed specifically to help children and adolescents with eating disorders and other mental health issues who require an overnight stay. Patients had previously had to travel out of the area for this level of specialist care.

The single storey building includes:

• 15 beds (an increase from the current 10 bed provision)
• Teaching, therapy and activity areas
• Landscaping and car park
• External plant and water tank
• Designated generator

The Beacon has individual, ensuite bedrooms, rather than dormitory style accommodation. It has facilities for Leicester Hospital School, as well as sensory rooms, quiet lounge areas, clinic rooms and an outside garden and sports area. Thanks to an incredible generous donation from Leicester City Football club, LPT has been able to build an astro-turfed sports pitch.

The site boundary comprised of a main road, live hospital buildings and a retained open field. We provided concrete footpaths to ensure safe access to and from site and provided stone access routes for the safe operations of cranes and forklifts. Full access was provided to the perimeter of the building whilst the roof works were ongoing. We also developed a bespoke delivery schedule to avoid disruptions to the running of the hospital and to minimise interface with vulnerable patients.