Access Guide
Summary
- This is an inpatient unit property.
- Services within the building include: Eric Shepherd Unit - Learning Disability and Forensic in-patient (Warren Court).
Getting Here
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By Road
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- Eric Shepherd Unit is located on Woodside Road and can be accessed by the M1.
Head north on M1, At junction 6, exit onto N Orbital Road/A405 towards M25/St Albans 0.4 miles.
Turn left onto Chequers Lane 0.8 miles
Continue onto Woodside Road 0.2 miles
Turn right and Eric Shepherd Unit is located at the end of the road. - Eric Shepherd Unit has its own car park for staff and visitors with two Blue Badge bays.
- Eric Shepherd Unit is located on Woodside Road and can be accessed by the M1.
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By Bus
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- The nearest bus stop is located on Horseshoe Lane 0.4 miles from Eric Shepherd Unit with route Sapphire 320.
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By Train
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- The nearest train station is Garston 1.9 miles from Eric Shepherd Unit.
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Useful Links
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- Link below is the bus provider near Eric Shepherd Unit.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Link below is the train provider at Garston.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance
- A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
- British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- The alternative formats documents can be provided in include; Braille on request, large print on request, Makaton on request and different languages on request.
- There is a wheelchair to borrow to aid transferring around the building.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are not available.
- Home visits services are available.
Opening Times
- Please contact the venue for details of opening times.
Parking
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Parking
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- The venue does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located at the front of the unit.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- The car park does not have a barrier control system.
- The car park surface is block paving.
- There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) markings are faded.
- There is/are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 312cm x 505cm (10ft 3in x 16ft 7in).
- There is not a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
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Paying
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- There are not parking charges for the car park.
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Access from the Car Park
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- The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is / are slopes/ramps.
- The entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
- The surface on the approach to the entrance is block paving.
- There is no tactile paving on dropped kerbs between the car park and the entrance.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
Outside Access
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the unit.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is an intercom.
- The height of the intercom is 132cm .
- There is not a hand sanitiser.
- There is not a door release button when exiting.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The width of the door opening is 87cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 1.5cm or below.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The width of the door opening is 96cm.
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Ramp/Slope Details
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- The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
- The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
- The handrail(s) is/are on both sides going up the ramp.
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Comments
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- The second door is opened automatically by the control room operator.
Reception
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Reception
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- The reception point is located ahead of the main entrance.
- The reception point is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to the reception point.
- There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
- There are windows, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
- The lighting levels at the reception point are good.
- The height of the reception counter is medium height (77cm - 109cm) .
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
- There is not a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
- The counter is staffed.
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The type of system is a portable loop.
- The hearing assistance system is signed.
- Staff are trained to use the hearing system.
- The hearing assistance was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
- The hearing assistance system was tested on 02/10/2019.
- The hearing assistance system was working at the time of testing.
- Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are not provided in the reception area.
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Reception Waiting Area
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- There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
- Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.
- There are seats with armrests on both sides.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- The waiting room / area does not have background music playing.
- There is a flashing fire alarm beacon within the waiting room / area.
- There is not a television.
- Vending machines are not available.
- A water dispenser is available.
- There is not a play area or toys/books for a child to play with.
- There is space for an assistance dog to rest within the seating area.
- Lighting levels are medium.
Accessible Toilet(s)
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located to the right as you enter.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 1m (3ft 3in) from the main entrance.
- There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
- This is a shared toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door is light.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is good.
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Toilet Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 140cm x 203cm (4ft 7in x 6ft 8in).
- The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The lighting levels are good.
- There is not a lateral transfer space.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a sensor flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
- There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is fair.
- There is an emergency alarm.
- There is a push button alarm in the toilet.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
- Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
- There is a/are female sanitary and pedal bin disposal units.
- There is a/are coat hook(s).
- The height of the coat hook is 172cm from the floor.
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Additional Fixtures
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- There is a mirror.
- The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
- The toilet has a backrest.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
- The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is good.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The height of the wash basin is 72cm (2ft 4in).
- There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 96cm.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 104cm (3ft 5in).
- The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is good.
- There is not a hand dryer.
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Comments
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- The emergency push button is 106cm high.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are not available.