• Mental Health
  • Independent mental health service

Addcounsel Limited

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

28 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 4QR (020) 3709 3968

Provided and run by:
Harbor London Ltd

All Inspections

13 April 2022

During a routine inspection

Addcounsel is an independent healthcare provider offering assessment and treatment to adults with mental health concerns or substance misuse. This service was inspected in 2018, but was not rated. During this inspection we rated the service for the first time.

We rated it as requires improvement because:

  • Documentation was not always available to show staff were recruited safely and robustly or that they had received basic training to keep themselves and clients safe.
  • The service was not adequately assured their sessional staff were receiving supervision and appraisals.
  • Medication administration charts were not always fully completed. There were gaps when prescribing as required medicines, such as doctors’ signatures and maximum doses.
  • Governance processes did not always operate effectively, for example, the service did not always hold governance meetings within the timeframes they had set out.
  • The service did not always highlight potential ligature points throughout the service.
  • At the time of inspection, clinical areas were visibly clean. However, cleaning records were not always completed in full. Since the inspection the service has provided updated cleaning records.

However:

  • Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the clients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
  • The service had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of clients under their care. Staff from different disciplines worked together as a team to benefit clients. They supported each other to make sure clients had no gaps in their care.
  • Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients.
  • Staff involved clients in care planning and risk assessment and actively sought their feedback on the quality of care provided. They ensured that clients had easy access to additional support.
  • Leaders had the skills, knowledge and experience to perform their roles and had a good understanding of the services they managed. Leaders were visible in the service and approachable for clients and staff.

6 & 7 February 2018

During a routine inspection

We do not currently rate independent community mental health services.

This inspection was carried out as an announced, comprehensive inspection. We found:

  • The premises were clean and well maintained.

  • There were sufficient numbers of suitable, trained and supported staff to keep patients safe and meet their individual needs and preferences. Recruitment processes were robust to make sure people were cared for by suitable staff.

  • Risk assessments and risk management plans were in place and reviewed regularly to ensure patients’ individual needs were being met safely. Risk management was recognised as the responsibility of all staff.

  • There was a holistic approach to assessing, planning and delivering care and treatment to patients in line with current evidence-based guidance, best practice and legislation.

  • Patients, and others important to them, were fully and actively involved in all aspects of the planning and delivery of their care and worked in partnership with the staff team.

  • Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with dignity and respect. The service was tailored and delivered care to patients to meet their individual needs.

  • Morale was high and staff were positive about their leadership. Staff were supported, felt valued and listened to by the management team.

  • There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Where improvements were needed, plans were put in place and action taken to make improvements.