This project for the South Australian Department of Health (Major Projects Office) was for the development of a new 129 bed integrated health facility for mental health and substance abuse. Swanbury Penglase in association with specialist firm Medical Architecture (UK) have developed a benchmark facility based on a new consumer orientated model of care. The facility is an embodiment of evidence based international best practice.
This was a complex and sensitive project designed to replace an existing facility with a new adaptable, state-of-the- art, integrated health facility which responds to the need for ‘sanctuary’ as well as ‘normality’. The services include inpatient, outpatient, administration, education, training and facilities management.
The project embraces the challenges of integrating mental health services into the community in support of demystification and destigmatization as envisioned by the Social Inclusion Board in the landmark 2006 report ‘Stepping Up’. The report triggered creation of the 2008 Glenside Campus Master plan of which the new health facilities are a key component.
The facilities are specifically designed to support autonomous recovery paths and a decentralized, interactive model of care. A high degree of therapeutic value has been achieved through spatial variety and close integration of the built facilities with richly provisioned public and private open spaces. With a continuous gradient of privacy and security is provided to foster autonomy and support the recovery based model of care.
Developed with clear zoning, all inpatient units are designed using the same concept model: a series of pods contain the ‘private’ on-ward activities thus the creation of secure & private gardens using the building form linked by a ‘mall’ off which shared spaces are accommodated, with the ‘public’ face of the building providing flexible and adaptable generic accommodation. The based on the client’s vision to create a campus integrated within the wider community, the facility adopts a ‘village’ urban design model in a park-like setting the buildings are arranged around a common central shared garden The project has achieved to a high standard of aesthetic quality.
The facilities completed in July 2013, have already achieved recognition with an award in 2011 from the International Health Design Academy for Future health Projects for its salutogenic vision and recognition of the process of consultation and embedded innovation.
Staff are already reporting that consumers occupying the first stages of the facilities in 2011 are very happy with the new accommodation, and a survey of consumers in the Supported Accommodation units identified 100% of residents reporting an improvement in satisfaction with accommodation, and 67% reporting improved independence.
“To see residents sitting in the sun on their front porch interacting with the neighbourhood and its activities is a symbol of why we are doing this project” – David Forster Project Director MPO
“This is a significant milestone for mental health services in South Australia. The new Glenside Health Service is a key element of the state’s broader mental health reforms and places South Australia as a leader in this field. The transition from an outdated asylum style of care to a modern, flexible environment which provides mental health consumers and staff with a space to promote healing and recovery is transforming how we provide mental health care.” – Premier Mr Jay Weatherill July 2013
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