Archived: Early Years Parenting Unit

We rated this service as good because:

• The service had been set up following evidence-based national guidance for the treatment and support of the patient group and had successfully demonstrated positive outcomes for families over time. The staff team were highly motivated and dedicated to working with the parents and children.

• The team was made up of qualified and experienced clinical staff who delivered therapeutic interventions, but also a group of qualified and experienced staff to support and care for the children.

• Patients said staff were skilled at delivering the treatment and supporting patients to engage in therapy. The service had a welcoming and comfortable environment, for both parents and children. Staff supported patients to overcome barriers of access to services and made sure they were involved in goals for treatment. Staff regularly discussed treatment and goals with parents and shared written copies of paperwork relating to their care.

• Staff understood the specific risks to parents and children accessing the service and managed these appropriately. Staff kept in close contact with, and provided clear and meaningful feedback to, social workers in the local authority who were involved in families’ care. The service provided local authorities with clear information about what the service offered and who would be most appropriate to refer.

• Governance systems ensured the environment was safe, staff could access training and had appropriate employment checks in place. Staff collected and monitored treatment outcomes on a regular basis and this was led by a research officer.

• The service addressed the recommendations made in the last inspection. This included embedding a system for reporting and learning from incidents, ensuring mandatory training covered all necessary areas and that all staff had up to date criminal records checks. The service was open to feedback and made changes where necessary.

• Staff said the team worked well together and were supported well by the clinical services manager. Staff received regular supervision where they were supported with their own professional development and reflective practice.

• Staff kept up-to-date and accurate records about care whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.