A NORTH-EAST mental health facility which provides inpatient services for children and young people has been named as one of the top three units in the country.

The Newberry Centre, which is part of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services for children and young people aged up to 18 years living in Darlington, Stockton, Durham, Teesside, South Tyneside and North Tyneside areas.

Staff at the centre, based in West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, are celebrating after being accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Quality Network for Inpatients.

The team of NHS professionals were presented with a certificate by the college as confirmation of the service’s commitment to on-going evaluation and quality improvement.

Staff, patients, their carers and commissioners have all been involved in achieving this national accreditation.

Yvonne Harrison, unit manager of the Newberry Centre said: “This is excellent news. The award is a formal recognition of our work with children, young people and their carers and demonstrates our commitment to offer quality services for the young people living in the North-East who need to access them.”

The accreditation report includes comments from parents and our service users, such as:'I don’t know what we’d have done without this service.'

'Staff are always approachable and work hard to engage with all the young people who need to stay in the centre.'

'The centre has provided a first class service within a homely, caring and supportive environment.'.