Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Elysium Healthcare are working in partnership to provide a new mental health inpatient service for young people in Surrey in a new purpose-built unit. Emerald Place Clinic is available solely for NHS funded care and treatment and the partnership brings together complementary expertise and best practice to jointly manage the inpatient unit and deliver a high-quality service for young people.
Emerald Place Clinic is a general adolescent inpatient unit for the care and treatment of young people aged 13 up to the age of 18.
Young people who are admitted to the unit will have a primary diagnosis of mental illness across a wide range of disorders and complex needs. These could include mental health conditions such as mood disorders and acute psychosis. Additionally young people may have co-existing additional needs such as neurodevelopmental disorders, including mild learning disabilities or autism. A young person could also be admitted if they have disordered eating.
To celebrate the launch of our new service, this article will introduce you to Morgan Owen, the Hospital Director for Emerald Place Clinic. Learn more about Morgan’s extensive experience and career working in the mental health sector, why you would want to join the team and his exciting plans and vision for Emerald Place Clinic.
Tell us more about your career journey leading up to joining Elysium, why did you want to start a career in healthcare?
I come from a family of nurses, so it is very much part of who I am and had a huge influence when I was younger. I have always had a curiosity for how people think and why they do the things they do, and obviously being in a household full of people talking about mental health nursing, it makes you more curious. So that was the first real reason.
I completed my Nursing training between 1985 and 1988 and after that I worked in a variety of different settings within acute mental health and substance misuse. I emigrated to Australia in 1991 and worked as a Nurse in forensic mental health for quite a long time. I worked with adolescents as an Adolescent Counsellor for three years, and then ended up in management roles managing a substance misuse service, acute units. I ended up working in Australia for 18 years. My last role was as manager of adolescent mental health and drug and alcohol programmes with Justice Health which is a forensic mental health service in NSW. I managed five adolescent programmes, looking after young people who were in custody or involved in the criminal justice system.
In 2013 I moved back to the UK working in several roles including Clinical Director, Director of Clinical Services, Hospital Director, Hospital Manager and Service Manager. Then when my last contract finished, I started looking for a new position and the role of Hospital Director for Emerald place Clinic at Elysium caught my eye. I have experience working in all aspects of mental health and when working in a CAMHS setting, you can do so much good at an early stage because a lot of young people haven’t had good experiences with the healthcare system. So we can help set them up for their future life and hopefully set them on the right track.
What can people expect when joining Emerald Place Clinic? What are your expectations and values as the Hospital Director?
I always try to instil in colleagues that it does not matter whether you’re doing the cleaning or you’re the Consultant Psychiatrist, we all have the same goal and that’s providing quality and compassionate healthcare. We also need to care about our colleagues because healthcare can be a high demanding environment.
This is a unique opportunity for everyone joining as it is a brand-new service. Every single person that joins will have to help form the culture of the service. I want it to really be one of those inclusive teams that all work together.
I think as a manager it is important to be visible. If there is a problem, I want people to know they can come to me at any time, day or night and raise concerns. That is the sort of person I am. That is how I manage. I think it is about being consistent. I am fair, open and honest and the door is always open.
I am also a manager that expects people to do their best in the job as well. I want people to come in with their eyes wide open and know that we are going to have a busy time in this new unit keeping our young people safe and making their experience positive.
I do believe that you should be able to have a sense of humour at work too. I know that Healthcare is serious, but you should be able to enjoy your work too. Of course, we must get on and work professionally, but at the same time I want people to enjoy coming to work.
Why would someone want to join Elysium and work at Emerald Place Clinic?
You would be joining a growing talented, supportive, and inclusive team at Emerald Place Clinic and this is a fantastic opportunity to work in a brand-new purpose-built service that has considered the needs of colleagues as well as Service Users. Emerald place is a well-designed spacious and comfortable environment to work and develop your skills and career pathway.
You will work closely with our local NHS mental health trust and community partners and will be part of a company whose goals are to excel in providing high levels of patient care and support as well as achieving job satisfaction.
Elysium also has a strong focus on wellbeing, and you receive your birthday off every year, there are wellbeing incentives/events organised and we have wellbeing champions at each site. There are also so many opportunities to excel in your career if you are dedicated and driven. The Learning and Development team is committed to building a skilled and capable workforce that is motivated and can achieve their career aspirations.
What roles are you looking to hire for to join the team at Emerald Place Clinic?
There are a number of roles we are currently recruiting for to join the key Multi-Disciplinary Team, this includes a Family Therapist, Art Therapist, a Dietitian, a Psychologist and a Deputy Ward Manager. We are really keen on having experienced Nurses to join the team too. What we need is a core team of strong, experienced Nurses and Healthcare Assistants that can really support the initial opening and build from that.
Then of course, we’re looking for the support services. We are looking for a Medical Secretary Ward Clark, a Chef and Catering Assistant. So, there are a lot of amazing opportunities available in the local area.
If you are looking for a new opportunity where you can make a difference to the lives of young people with acute mental health conditions in a newly built service in unique partnership between Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Elysium, click here to apply for a role at Emerald Place Clinic today.