Dudhope House
15 Dudhope Terrace
Dundee
DD3 6HH

About the Young People’ Unit

The Young People’s Unit has 6 places for young people of both sexes aged 12 – 18.  It is set in spacious grounds and has its own transport so that full use can be made of local amenities.  Young people come to the Unit because they are experiencing emotional psychological or family difficulties.

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How to get there

By Car

From the City Centre, head up the Lochee Road and turn right at the traffic lights at Polepark.  This takes you onto Dudhope Terrace.

There is free car park at the Unit for the use of staff and visitors.

By Bus

Bus services run hourly

No 7    City Centre from Union Street to Lochee Road
No 37  City Centre from Union Street to Dudhope Terrace

To return to the City Centre  

No 37  Lochee Road to Union Street
No 36            Dudhope Terrace to Union Street

For further information on public transport contact Travel Dundee.

www.traveldundee.co.uk or call 0870 6082608

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Visiting

Your family and friends are encouraged to visit you during your stay.

The visiting times are as follows:

Tuesday 6.30 pm  to 8.00 pm
Thursday 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm
Sunday 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

In some circumstances visitors may be able to visit you outside of these times.

You will see your visitor in rooms such as the Lounge or Group Room.

If more than 7 people want to visit at the same time you may need to negotiate this beforehand with nursing staff.

It may not always be possible for babies and young children to visit the Unit.  Your relatives should check beforehand with the staff.

It is important that every time your family visits they meet with a staff member to catch up on things.

In certain circumstances, travel expenses can be reimbursed, please speak to YPU Secretary for further information.

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Telephone Calls

There is a pay phone on the Unit.  All calls to and from the line should be made before 8.45pm because after this time you and the other young people will be relaxing and getting ready for bed.

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Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are not allowed in the YPU, but if you bring one with you staff will store it safely for you.

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Postal Address

For letters the address is as follows:

Young Persons Name
C/o Young People’s Unit
Dudhope House
15 Dudhope Terrace
Dundee
DD3 6HH

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Valuables and Money

You should not bring anything valuable with you to the YPU.  While the Unit will try to cover expenses of organised trips and sports facilities, you may need to bring pocket money with you.  Pocket money should not be more that £10.00 per week and must be handed to nursing staff for safekeeping.  You will not be allowed to use Credit Cards while you are in the YPU, but in some circumstances you may be able to use a bankcard.

Your visitors should discuss with staff any items they might want to give you when they visit.

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What to Bring With You

• Casual comfortable clothes
• Pyjamas/nightdress, dressing gown and slippers
• Clothes suitable for school
• Swimming and sports gear including trainers
• Toiletries
• Any medication you are currently prescribed
• If you bring electrical equipment such as hair straighteners or musical equipment it must be checked by the Unit before you will be able to use it.

Towels and bed linen are provided but you are welcome to bring our own
 
There is an automatic washing machine and a dryer in the Unit.

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What Not to Bring

• Portable televisions, computers (including laptops) etc.
• Pets
• Non-prescribed drugs, alcohol or solvents

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Advocacy

An advocate is a person who can speak on your behalf making sure that people know how you feel and what you want to say.  There are details of advocacy services displayed on the Unit and you can ask to see the Children’s Advocacy Worker or contact them yourself.

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Spirituality

If you attend religious services at home, arrangements can be made for you to attend similar services in the locality while you are on the Unit.  Arrangements can also be made for a hospital chaplain to visit you at the Unit.

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What Happens in the Unit

A team of people will work with you and your family.  The team is made up of Doctors, Psychologists, Nurses, Teachers and Occupational Therapists and various students, as the Unit is a teaching Unit.

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Nursing Staff

The nursing staff look after the young people 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  They take care of all the young people’s daily activities and provide support and keep the young people safe.  They also provide a range of therapies.  Two members of the nursing staff will be your Key Workers.  When your Key Worker and Associate Workers are not on duty, you will have a named nurse who will be available for you, to talk about anything you want.

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Group Work

A large part of the work you will do in the Unit will take place in groups.

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Community Meeting

The Community Meeting happens daily Monday to Friday. All young people and staff on duty attend it.   Living and working together, helping and supporting each other is not always easy.  The community meeting is a chance to talk about things that affect everyone in the Unit.

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Discussion Therapy Group

This group takes place twice a week between 12.30 pm and 1.30 p.m.   The group is attended by all the young people along with two members of staff.   Discussion Group offers young people the opportunity to learn about relationships. It allows group members to help and support each other, and to share common problems and learn how others cope with them.

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Action Therapy

This group takes place once a week between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm and is for all the young people along with 2 members of staff.

This group tends to be more activity based using things like role-play, drama, and games to help everyone think about ways of dealing with challenges in life.

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School

Attending school is an important part of your development.   The teacher will be able to help you with difficulties you may have had with school in the past and will help keep you up to date with your schoolwork while you are in the Unit.   The teacher will regularly attend meetings with other members of staff to discuss the best way to help you within school and will also keep in touch with your home school.  You will be given a handbook to tell you more about the school.

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Spare Time

We encourage young people to keep up with their own interests and activities whenever possible.  We also want young people to have a chance to try new things and so we ask you to sign a form agreeing to this.  We also encourage physical exercise as a way of keeping healthy and feeling better.

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Smoking Policy

The Unit is a non-smoking unit and the appropriate help will be given to young people who smoke so they can give up.