Transforming Brooklands
Phase 1 is now complete with the official opening of the Rainbow Unit at Brooklands in January 2021. The new state-of-the-art inpatient facilities for patients with a learning disability and/ or autism. 
The Rainbow Unit is the Trust’s first new low secure unit dedicated for patients with autism and a second unit will be completed in Phase 2, which is expected to be completed early 2023. The second unit will be a new recovery and integration facility for a wide range of patients with a learning disability and/ or autism.
The new units will provide state-of-the art facilities in which our staff can provide high quality, specialist care that is flexible to patients’ needs. Patients will benefit from a self-contained apartment which includes a lounge area, bedroom and en suite, with access to their own outside area. There will also be a day space area, kitchen, laundry, reception/ waiting room, therapy and multi-faith room.
This development will be carried out over three phases, with both new facilities expected to be fully open in 2023. More information about the Phase 2 transformation will be coming soon!
You can find out more in our Frequently Asked Questions tab.
Photos of Rainbow Unit
Pictures of the new Rainbow Unit, Brooklands
Rainbow Unit Main Entrance
Lounge area 
Bedroom
Kitchen 
Staff area
Garden
Plan of Apartment
FAQs
What services are provided at Brooklands Hospital?
At Brooklands, we provide specialist inpatient assessment and treatment for adults and children with a learning disability, some of whom have forensic needs. The site currently offers adult and adolescent assessment and treatment and adult medium and low secure units. It is a Centre of Excellence and is nationally renowned across the UK.
What changes are you making at Brooklands?
We are developing a new low secure unit dedicated for patients with autism and a new recovery and integration facility for a wide range of patients with a learning disability and/ or autism. The Rainbow Unit opened in January 2021.
What will be the benefits of the new services?
The new facilities will provide a safe, modern state-of-the-art environment in which our staff can provide the very best, flexible care to our patients. It will enable us to provide the right specialist care locally for a wide range of patients with complex needs.
Patients will benefit from a self contained apartment which includes a lounge area, bedroom and en suite, with access to their own outside area. There will also be a day space area, kitchen, laundry, reception/ waiting room, therapy and multi-faith room.
What patients will use the new services?
Patients with autism and/ or a learning disability will be referred to stay in the new units.
What will the new services be called?
Following the engagement and feedback the name of the new service will be the Rainbow Unit.
When will the building work start and how long will it take?
The new units will be developed in three phases over the next two years. Phase one is now complete with the opening of the Rainbow Unit. This replaces the vacant 2,3 and 4 Sycamore units on the Brooklands site. Phase two will see the development of a new recovery and integration unit for patients with a learning disability and/ or autism.
The second phase will involve converting the vacant Snowdon unit into a new low secure inpatient facility for patients with autism. The final phase will be to convert the new Sycamore Units into a dedicated unit for recovery and integration patients.
How have staff and patients been involved in designing the new building?
Staff at Brooklands have been, and continue to work closely with the architect to help design the new units and agree the layout, furniture and facilities and look and feel. Patients at Brooklands have also commented on the designs and fed back their ideas.
Will there be staff vacancies for the new service?
All vacancies will be advertised on NHS Jobs. For more information visit https://cov-nhs-staging.verseonecloud.com/work-for-us
What parking will be on site at the new building?
Free parking will be available for staff and visitors on the main car park.
What impact will the new buildings have on local residents and visitors to the site?
Phase two will involve construction work which means there will be some construction traffic travelling on site. Our estates team is working closely with the architect and construction company to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum at all times. Staff, visitors and local residents will be kept informed throughout the programme.
Work for us
Are you interested in a career supporting patients with learning disabilities?
We are looking for support workers, nurses, healthcare assistants, Allied Health Professionals, psychologists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and specialists in Autism.
Find out more here