18 and 19 April 2023
During a routine inspection
Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:
- The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe and clean. The wards had enough nurses and doctors. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They conducted emergency scenario simulations to ensure that staff became accustomed to responding to unexpected events. They minimised the use of restrictive practices, 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 audit 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.
- Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. They actively involved patients and families and carers in care decisions.
- The service managed beds well.
- The service was well led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.
However:
- The hospital used a high number of agency staff.
- Patients and staff raised concerns over the competency of new agency staff working on an eating disorder ward.
- Nurses did not complete the safety checks consistently on Skylark ward.
- Not all staff knew where both ligature cutters were located on Skylark ward. Not all staff knew where the potential ligature points were around the ward.