Neurodiverse Environmental Audits

Environment Audit of Low and Medium-Secure Forensic Mental Health Services within the sites of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (Thames Valley and Wessex, Adult Secure Neurodiverse Environmental Audits).

As part of alignment with new national standards, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is looking to commission a structured neurodiversity-informed environmental audit. We seek to identify any gaps and priorities for improvement. This may inform new environment recommendations including day to day operation of environments and estate adjustments with an aim to improve experience for our service users.

People accessing low- and medium-secure forensic mental health services frequently experience heightened sensory sensitivities and require reasonable adjustments to understand the environment around them (i.e. appropriate signage). This is particularly relevant for individuals who are neurodivergent, including those with autism and / or learning disabilities.

The design, layout, and day to day operation of ward environments can significantly influence distress levels, behaviour, engagement in care, and overall outcomes. A poorly adapted environment may exacerbate agitation, anxiety, aggression, withdrawal or seclusion incidents, whilst a well adapted environment can promote feelings of safety, regulation and recovery.

Oxford Health is working to improve the experience of people with learning disabilities and / or autism accessing its mental health services and seeks to commission a structured external audit of a specified number of wards across its sites to ensure the environment is neurodiverse-informed and to identify gaps and priorities for improvement.