The National Sensory Network was developed from a project funded by NHS England - The Sensory Friendly Inpatient Environment Project. The National Sensory Network is now expanding and continuing through sponsorship by Sensory Integration Education.
The Sensory Friendly Inpatient Environments project was a one-off project funded by NHS England and run in collaboration with Advonet, Bradford Foundation District Care Trust and Leeds and York Foundation Partnership Trust. The project's ultimate aim was to improve individuals' experience on inpatient mental health wards. There is increasing national recognition that our inpatient environments can have a detrimental effect on autistic people and are not designed to support individual unique sensory profiles. In the past this has led to longer lengths of stay and increased use of practice.
The Sensory Friendly Inpatient Environment project raised awareness of the sensory needs of all individuals on mental health wards through a programme of staff education and environmental modifications. The project was first piloted at a low secure service in Bradford beginning in 2022-23. It was extended to pilot sites across Bradford Foundation District Care Trust and four wards at Leeds and York Foundation Partnership Trust (2023- 24).
Part of the project was to establish a National Sensory Network. Existing national networks had run down or were focused only on children. This led to the current collaboration between Sensory Integration Education and The Sensory Friendly Inpatient Environment Project, to maximise access to knowledge and sharing of good practice. Sensory Integration Education is a UK-based not-for-profit organisation pioneering world-class training in sensory integration for professionals for over 30 years.
