The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Cygnet Hospital Godden Green in Sevenoaks, Kent, as good following an inspection which took place in September.
CQC previously visited the hospital in November last year to inspect the psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). Following other inspections at the hospital in September and October last year, the provider made the decision to close its child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) wards at this location. The service now only provides specialist inpatient acute and psychiatric intensive care services to adult women.
Inspectors returned in September this year to check the hospital had implemented and addressed concerns highlighted in the previous inspection report. The service was previously rated at requires improvement but is now rated good overall and good for being safe, caring, effective and well-led. The service was rated requires improvement for being responsive.
Karen Bennet-Wilson, CQC’s head of hospital inspection for mental health, said:
“Following our latest inspection of Cygnet Hospital Godden Green, we found an experienced leadership team was now in place and they had made a number of improvements to the service.
“People’s experience of using these services was much more positive. Physical restraint when people were in distress was now a last resort and staff made every attempt to avoid using restraint by using de-escalation techniques.
“People can also feel reassured that regular checks were now taking place to ensure any risks that could result in them harming themselves were identified and removed or managed appropriately. Dangerous items were also now being stored securely.
“We found that the wards were clean and had enough doctors and nurses. Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and knew how to protect them.
“We welcome the improvements made by Cygnet Hospital Godden Green and look forward to returning to see what further improvements have been made.”
During the visit, inspectors found that:
- Staff now used physical restraint as a last resort
- The service had identified all risks within the ward environment, such as ligature points
- Staff actively involved patients and their families or carers in the planning of their care
- Staff helped patients to stay in contact with families and carers
- Service beds were managed so a bed was always available to a person who would benefit from admission. Patients were discharged promptly once their condition warranted this
- Staff assessed and managed risk well. Medicines were managed safely, and staff followed good practice with respect to safeguarding
- However, there were occasions on both wards when staff entered clinic’s rooms without knocking or identifying whether it was appropriate to enter.
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