The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has praised staff in Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust for their work which has led to the trust’s Outstanding rating.
A team of inspectors from CQC visited the trust in April 2019 to check the quality of four mental health core services and two community services:
- Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
- Long stay rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults,
- Wards for older people with mental health problems
- Mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety
- Community health services for adults
- Community urgent care services.
In June 2019 CQC returned to look at management and leadership to answer the key question: Is the trust well-led?
The trust is now rated Outstanding overall for the quality of its services. The trust is also rated Outstanding for being caring and well-led and Good for being safe, effective and responsive.
Full reports are available at: www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RDY
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust provides health and social care, including mental health and other specialist services, to 700,000 people across the county of Dorset. More than half of the trust’s services are provided in the community, in people’s homes, clinics and schools.
Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Dr Paul Lelliott (and lead for mental health), said:
“In June 2015, when we first inspected Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, using our new approach, we rated the trust as Requires Improvement. Since then, the trust has worked steadily to improve the quality of its services. Their determination to develop a culture of continuous improvement has significantly improved the care they provide for their patients. This is reflected in the overall rating having moved to Outstanding.
“Staff spoke positively about the patient journey and the striving for continual improvement with all staff working effectively as a team, in a coordinated way and in partnership with patients to ensure safe, high quality. care
“I am delighted at this achievement which is a credit to all of the trust’s staff. Their hard work is making a real difference to the lives of people using the services.”
Inspectors found the trust board were providing inspirational, leadership. They demonstrated that they were progressive, cohesive and innovative with a clear purpose. They also showed a mature approach to challenges and to working effectively with other health and social care partners
During the 2017 inspection, inspectors raised concerns around the lack of safeguarding training and the high level of physical restraint. At this April 2019 inspection of mental health services, we found that staff were now assessing and managing risks to patients and themselves well. Staff were providing a good balance between keeping people safe and providing the least restrictive environment possible to help patients’ recovery. Staff followed best practice in anticipating, de-escalating and managing challenging behaviour. As a result, they used restraint rarely, and only after attempts at de-escalation had failed
Herm and St Brelades wards which are wards for older people with mental health problems had recently been awarded the Gold Standard Framework accreditation. These wards were the first older people mental health wards in the country to earn this award which recognises excellence in providing care at the end of people’s lives. The accreditation panel found that patients received care how and where they wanted it, and that relatives had peace of mind.
In community health services for adults there was a strong patient-centred culture. Staff understood and respected the personal, cultural, social and religious needs of people. Staff took time to interact with patients and their relatives and carers with kindness and compassion involving patients in decisions about their care and treatment. The home visit appointments and rehabilitation fitness sessions we observed did not feel rushed.
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