6th December 2022
During an inspection looking at part of the service
Our rating of this location improved. We rated it as good because:
- The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe, clean and well furnished. The wards had enough nurses and doctors. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They analysed and minimised the use of restrictive practices through clinical governance, they managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
- Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audits to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
- The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards. Managers ensured that these staff received training, supervision and appraisal. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
- Although there was minimal use of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities safely.
- Patients reported that staff treated them with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood their individual needs. They actively involved patients, families and carers in care decisions.
- The service managed beds well so that a bed was always available locally to a person who would benefit from admission and patients were discharged promptly once their condition warranted this.
- The service was well led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.
However:
- Maple Ward, the female only ward had no signage outside the doors to the ward indicating it was a female only area. This meant it was sometimes difficult for male patients to differentiate between the ward areas.