Background

This high-dependency care home in Bushey, provides specialist support for people with mental health problems. It is a high-category hospital facility offering round-the-clock support to a limited number of service users.

The specialist unit helps people who are dealing with varying levels of mental illness.

On site, residents live semi-independent whilst receiving specialist care from trained mental health workers. During their stay, intensive support and day-to-day care is offered by professionals at all times.

Project

The project’s focus was to create a number of specialist flats within the mental health care home facility in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Fitted out to a high specification, designers had to give careful consideration when creating a safe new place for users and staff.

Inside the home, residents’ bedrooms had to comply with strict safety measures as patient welfare was paramount.

The newly-refurbished residential complex reopens later in 2019, after the year-long building project.

BetweenGlassBlinds

On every new external window, tilt-only magnetic blinds were supplied to Window Care Herts Ltd from BetweenGlassBlinds.

As an increased safety measure, these integral blinds were fitted between specially-toughened, clear laminated glass. BetweenGlassBlinds worked with the team at Window Care Herts Ltd, to ensure the magnetic blinds could function smoothly through thicker glass and technicians from both companies visited the project to make bespoke, on-site adaptations to the integral blinds.

The magnetic blinds are operated with a neat and unobtrusive sliding magnetic block which is located around the perimeter of the unit. This means the blinds work on a completely cordless system.

On this project, in a bid to keep residents safe, BetweenGlassBlinds was asked to make the magnetic block detachable so only staff could operate the blinds and patients could be protected from any unforeseen dangers. This was a simple task for the technical support team at BetweenGlassBlinds.

The tilt-only magnetic blinds, locked between the two panes of glass, protect blinds from dirt, damage and grime – making maintenance and upkeep very simple.

In healthcare establishments, like hospitals or specialist care units, these provide the perfect solution when privacy is needed and for infection control concerns that non-integral blinds can present.

Paul West, managing director of Window Care Herts Ltd, which is based in Stevenage, was extremely pleased with the products supplied from BetweenGlassBlinds. He says the team at BGB are professional and supportive and the technical staff are full of knowledge.

Paul says: “This project was complex, but we were really pleased with the finished work. We were there to fit windows and doors at the site, but our brief was complicated further when we were asked to adhere to greater safety requirements.

“The glass had to be specially-toughened laminated glass and that meant the magnetic blinds needed some adaptations. None of these issues caused us a problem – mainly thanks to BGB and its team of technical staff.

“They visited the site and worked alongside us so we could complete the project without any issues. I was very impressed with BGB.

“Over the years I have worked with other companies who provide blinds that fit between glass, but we’ve never received this kind of expert service.

“BetweenGlassBlinds was absolutely excellent and I’d like to praise the technical team for supporting us on this project.

“It’s always very much appreciated when you receive such superb service. It’s something you really don’t forget.

“From now on, we won’t be using any other firm when we need blinds fitting between our glass. The team at BetweenGlassBlinds will be receiving ALL of our orders.”