The Derwent Centre - Harlow

Laura N.

Lack listening skills. Having to call up every day for 2 weeks to try and get some sort of communication. Lady in admin was lovely .
But isobella who was on the phone seriously lacks listening, empathy skills and really needs to get another job. This job is not for her. Talks over you . Rude !!

They created more problems then anything, made my mental health worse by not listening or communication
They come round ask how you are everyday then say see you tomorrow and ask the same questions again 😂😂 . Don't actually help or do anything. Not sure what they do

Can say 2 absolutely lovely people on the phone and man and the admin lady..
No wonder the mental health system in this country is a shambles

Will be making a complaint to pals , all I get is apologies and ' you seriously have been let down by the mental health system '

Chloe

I am extremely thankful for the Home First team who took me on after having a Mental Health Crisis where I ended up in A&E. I would like to say a particular special thank you to Martin, Isabella and there was also a very kind lady doctor who was very soft spoken and spent a lot of time with me. As well as the psychologists who came and assessed me. All of these members of the team would stay at my house for ages really hearing me out about the struggles I’ve had all of my life and taking notes and giving me the medication I needed.
Sometimes there were miscommunications with when visits would happen but just a quick phone call to the team and it would be sorted. The team would visit between 10 and 3pm which was hard sometimes waiting for when they would come. Sometimes I would also find it hard to talk about my suicide plans everyday with them, but after mentioning that bringing it up everyday was making it seem more realistic to carry out, they listened and stopped asking in such detail as they understood it was not what I needed.
But overall, I am incredibly thankful and appreciative for this service. I had really lost hope after not feeling listened to with my GP and it was difficult to see them as I struggle to leave the house on bad days. I was losing hope everyday especially for the last 2 years and I felt my days were numbered and this team has saved my life with their daily visits and making me feel so understood and listened to. They even dropped a message to my GP to confirm my ADHD assessment after being on the waiting list for 2 years. They truly do care and take their time with you. I can’t express my gratitude enough.
I am now being referred to Western House for long term care and I’m so thankful to have been taken so seriously as I really thought the trip to A&E would be the last time I try and get help.
Thank you so much Home First. I will never be able to express just how thankful and grateful I am for your time, effort and patience when saving my life. ♥️

Lily G.

Absolutely vile. I have been desperately seeking help and they Chuck you on the first meds they can give. Told the person I was not in control and they need to help and if they let me leave I am gonna do something. She walked me to the door and said see ya later. Awful place, do not even try to get help because they’ll do the opposite.

CAROL B.

My son is currently sectioned and no beds available locally so was placed here. I’ve found that the communication is seriously lacking. After not being able to attend his ward round meeting even though I contacted them several times about it and made sure they had my email. I talked to the ward manager who did apologise and said he would make sure I could attend the next one. The ward round was due next Monday. I waited all week to be sent the link but by Friday afternoon I still hadn’t heard anything. I contacted my son’s care coordinater who emailed the lady who is responsible for sending the link cc’ing me in. Later I called reception to see if I could talk to her and was advised she finishes work at 3pm. Luckily the person on reception covers the said lady when she is off and managed to send me the link. I called the ward and spoke to the ward manager and he informed me that the reason I hadn’t get the link was because said lady was on holiday all week ! I attended the ward round on zoom and I found the doctor condescending and stated that kicking and punching walls and doors in anger was violence.my son agreed to try to not be destructive but didn’t agree with it being referred to as violence and asked to leave the meeting..I continued to speak with the doctor as the alarms started going off. The doctor stated he had to end the meeting as it was my son acting up again and cut me off. I spent several hours feeling that my son had again got out of control and worrying about it. Later I spoke with my son and he told me it was another patient who set the alarm off. I know they are busy but I feel it would have been common courtesy to inform me.

Andre M.

I've never been to a worse clinic. They don't care about the patients, they practice illegal activity of pirating and logging. There's cameras in your room for 0 privacy. I've been on an injection for 6 months every week even though I have no mental health. The systems around Essex are dreadful really...shame I'm still here

Beca G.

I was a patient on Chelmer ward and was discharged recently. I was there for over 3 months, but the staff were really helpful and supportive. They helped me get to where I am now: a completely different person. I’m so grateful for the staff on Chelmer ward, the ward clerk and the OTs.

Matthew S.

Disgusting place.
Staff treat everyone like a piece of dirt off their shoe.
Completely bone idle lazy staff. No passion. Only staff member who had passion was carol she deserves a medal. Absolutely no care given. I suffer with PTSD and have had to sort out my own accommodation or I would have been made homeless after they gave me six more days here then I got slung out. I told my doctor I'd die on the streets and he said that I was making a threat. This place needs to be shut down. Have never been more frustrated in my life. NO CARE GIVEN

Tay S.

Hi my son was put in stork word for 28 days . I was always aloud to call . The day stuff was brilliant. . And Sylvia the word manger . Was brilliant . I like to thank everyone . That work with my son . & me if I had any ? I would always get ans
. The job they do is amazing . .thanks again x