Behavioral Health Program - Secured Unit

Touchpoints at Manchester’s Behavioral Health Program provides the necessary care and services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psycho-social well-being of residents experiencing behavior-related health conditions who have chosen to engage in the Behavioral Health Program.

For more than 30 years, we have successfully provided exceptional care to some of the most clinically complex and difficult to place residents. The longevity and consistency of our staff, combined with an interdisciplinary treatment model and trauma informed approach has created a truly therapeutic environment to ensure the wellness of our residents.

Program Mission

It is the mission of the Behavioral Health Program to enrich the lives of the residents we serve by providing holistic, interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Services, in a safe, dignified and therapeutic setting that serves to empower program participants to reach their highest level of personal independence and wellness. The primary program goal is to facilitate a successful re-integration into the most appropriate and independent setting possible.

Care is provided in a secure setting by a dedicated and experienced staff and in compliance with standards of care and Department of Public Health practices and requirements. 

Highlights

• 66 bed secure behavioral health unit. 
• Full-Time, experienced Program Director (see below)
• Specially-trained, supportive staff
• Comprehensive Therapeutic Activities
• Facility physician, PA and APRN Psychiatric Coverage. APRN presence five days per week. 
• Therapist offered two days per week focusing on group as well as individual therapy sessions.
• Emergency telehealth available 24/7
• Comfortable, quiet, safe and secure environment

• Staff made up of licensed clinical staff, certified nurses aides, a full time social worker, and consistent recreation and housekeeping staff.

Philosophy

It is the philosophy of the Behavioral Health Program that, those choosing to engage in the programs and pursue recovery will benefit from a more fulfilling and enhanced quality of life and will do so through the promotion of:

• High quality standards of practice (see below)
• Respect for the individuality, uniqueness and dignity of each program participant (to include the resident, their family and staff), and
• Continuous quality measurement and improvement.

Standards of Practice 

• Person-centered care planning
• Integrative medicine
• Therapeutic programming
• Routine rounding with inter-disciplinary team
• Regular education with staff
• Collaboration on goals and plan of care with family members
• On-going individualized assessments

Behavioral Health Program Director Provides

• Clinically evaluate residents for appropriate placement.

• Audits care plans, consents, quarterly evaluations and assessments.

• Crisis intervention management.

• Staff education, training and support.

• Ensures the consistency of a therapeutic and safe environment.

• Builds and fostering relationships with our community providers.

Our Commitment to Stigma-Free Care and a Stigma-Free Environment

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgement from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad.

Stigma harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence and prevents them from seeking help. The StigmaFree campaign is the effort to end stigma and create hope for those affected by mental illness.

Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us.

Touchpoints at Manchester and the iCare Health Network communities are committed a stigma-free environment and stigma free care for those with mental illness, and also those with substance use, dementia and other cognitive disorders.