Full Breakdown
Former Patient Returns as Staff at St Aubyn Centre, Offering Hope to Young Patients
5/5/2026, 10:58:51 AM
Background: CAMHS and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
The St Aubyn Centre in Colchester is part of the Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and provides mental health care for children and adolescents. It is managed by the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Recent mental-health inquiries have prompted the trust to refocus its services and plan the opening of new mental-health units, responding to calls from families for “hard questions” about care standards.
Profile: Holly Hawken’s Journey from Patient to Mental-Health Worker
Holly Hawken, now 28, first entered CAMHS at age 14 after being diagnosed with anorexia and later borderline personality disorder. She spent her teenage years as an inpatient at the St Aubyn Centre. Over the past decade, Hawken has transitioned from patient to professional, completing more than ten years of work in mental-health settings, including her current role on the Larkwood ward.
Role and Responsibilities on Larkwood Ward
Larkwood ward supports young people with complex, urgent mental-health needs. Hawken’s duties involve assisting inpatients to resume education, engage in therapeutic activities, and build confidence for life after discharge. She describes the ward environment as “busy and emotional” but emphasizes that incremental improvements in patients’ wellbeing are central to her motivation.
Impact on Patient Care and Service Outlook
Hawken’s personal experience informs her approach, allowing her to demonstrate to current patients that recovery is possible. She believes her presence offers a tangible example of “a future beyond hospital.” The trust’s broader strategy, shaped by the recent inquiry, includes opening new units to expand capacity for adolescents across Essex.
Official Statements from the Trust
The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust confirms that the St Aubyn Centre remains a core component of its CAMHS provision. In response to the inquiry, the trust has pledged to “refocus” service delivery and accelerate the development of additional mental-health facilities, addressing concerns raised by families and stakeholders.
Verbatim Quotes from Holly Hawken
- “They saved my life and I carry those memories with me.” — Holly Hawken, Mental-Health Worker
- “By being here, I can show them that there is a future beyond hospital, that they can survive this and go on to live full lives.” — Holly Hawken
- “Seeing young people improve, even in small ways, makes everything worth it.” — Holly Hawken
- “Watching someone get well enough for discharge and start building a life for themselves makes any bad day feel tiny.” — Holly Hawken
- “I’ve worked towards this for over 10 years, both professionally and personally, and I feel incredibly lucky to be here.” — Holly Hawken
What’s Next: New Units and Ongoing Inquiry
The trust plans to open additional mental-health units in the coming months, a step intended to address capacity gaps highlighted by the inquiry.
