Amber Lodge – RDaSH NHS Foundation Trust

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) provide Mental Health Services for adults and young people. Amber Lodge is a low secure unit for adults with learning disabilities providing specialist assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adult males detained under the Mental Health Act. The unit required an extension to the existing assessment and accommodation unit to facilitate a safe and secure ‘Seclusion Room’ with an observation area for staff to ensure safety of users.

The Challenge

The main challenge for this project was the construction period falling within the winter months and poor weather conditions, therefore the construction of the foundations and slabs etc. were critical to ensure the programme period was maintained. Additional works were instructed by the client, to install anti-ligature windows to the vacant rooms within the unit. This meant, due to their long lead in/manufacture period, the programme was extremely stretched and stringent co-ordination was imperative to maintain the programme.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer supplied incorrect window fenestration there, resulting in additional time added to the contract period due to impact on finishes etc. The clients ‘preferred’ sub-contractors for joinery items and specialist finishes/coverings also added to the difficulties by providing incorrect materials and poor workmanship that the main contractor had to continually re-arrange and instruct works.

What We Did

We were asked to provide Quantity Surveying services for this project to ensure the construction was delivered on time and budget. The unit would require additional staff resourcing to ensure patient safety during the project as a number of rooms were decommissioned to allow the construction of the new-build extension and reconfiguration of the existing unit. The original scheme for Amber Lodge was designed in-line with Skelbrooke Unit Seclusion Suite, a previous project Auburn Ainsley had assisted RDaSH to deliver with an alternative design team. Early 2019 saw a value engineering (VE) assessment completed by the original successful contractor and a construction cost agreed with RDaSH. We assisted our client to ensure the VE exercise and cost uplifts due to inflation, were in-line with BCIS indices and provided best value for the project.

Our Achievements

Amber Lodge Seclusion Room was delivered to a bench-marked costs and line with the previously delivered Seclusion Room at Skelbrooke Lodge also on the site of St Catherines Hospital at Doncaster. The client received value for money and a successful completion of a project which is possibly a key element in providing staff a safe and secure environment to work to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of users.