Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good overall by the Care Quality Commission.
The trust was rated Good in all five key questions that CQC rates: for being safe; effective; caring, responsive and well-led, following an inspection which took place between November 2018 and January 2019.
Oxleas provides a range of mental health and community healthcare services from locations mainly in the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
CQC inspected six core services: acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units; mental health crisis services and health based places of safety; community-based mental health services for older people; wards for older people with mental health problems; wards for people with learning disabilities or autism; community health inpatient services.
Inspectors found some outstanding practice. Including on acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, The Tarn (Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit) had significantly reduced incidents of violence and aggression over the last year following changes in staffing levels.
In community-based health services for older people, the Greenwich Memory Service had a quality improvement programme to increase referrals for people from minority ethnic groups.
In wards for older people with mental health problems, outstanding practice was evident on Holbrook Ward. Features included 1940s décor and equipment in the patients’ kitchen. The decoration, pictures, accessories and a sensory garden all contributed to a calming and therapeutic ward environment.
CQC found that Oxleas has a committed leadership team with strong values and integrity that had delivered high-quality patient care across the services inspected.
Leaders were visible and approachable. They promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff. The trust was committed to improving from learning when things went well and when they went wrong.
The trust collaborated well with local organisations to plan new services and improve existing ones. Partnerships with other organisations across south London had a positive impact on the quality of care and treatment provided to patients, including making sure they were cared for closer to home.
However, there are areas where the trust must make improvements:
- On acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, the trust must ensure that staff consistently carry out physical health checks on patients after they receive rapid tranquilisation, in line with trust policy
- In community based mental health services for older people, the trust must ensure medicines management is both safe and effective
- On wards for older people with mental health problems, the trust must ensure that staff complete checks on equipment to ensure items are replaced before they expire
CQC’s Head of Hospital Inspection (Mental Health), Jane Ray, said:
“I am pleased that Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has kept its Good overall rating. Generally, the standard of care at the trust is encouraging. I would like to see some Outstanding ratings in all five key categories that CQC rates, when we next inspect.”
I am pleased that Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has kept its Good overall rating
Jane Ray, Head of Hospital Inspection (Mental Health)