Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust rated Good after a CQC inspection
England’s chief inspector of hospitals has rated services at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust as Good following its latest inspection.
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust was previously inspected in October 2016. Following the latest inspection in January and February it has maintained its overall rating of Good. At this inspection the overall rating for safety went down to Requires Improvement from Good. This was partly because nurse alarm call systems were not in place in all of the bedrooms and some seclusion facilities lacked equipment.
Inspectors rated the trust Good for being effective. Inspectors saw that staff encouraged and supported patients to live healthier lives through promotion of heathy eating, exercise and reducing consumption of caffeine and smoking. Patients had up to date and comprehensive care plans.
Caring at the trust was Good, remaining unchanged. One of the trust’s adult social care locations, 88 Travis Gardens, was rated as Outstanding. Patients in some services actively participated in the recruitment and selection process of staff.
Responsiveness was rated as Good. Patients had access to recovery colleges and social prescribing designed to improve confidence and job skills and promote mental health recovery and well-being.
The trust was rated Good for being well led. There were clear governance structures in place which enabled the trust board to have oversight and assurance regarding performance across the organisation. In addition, non-executive directors had the appropriate skills and knowledge to provide relevant challenge to the trust board.
Of the core services CQC inspected, community health services, community health inpatient services, mental health services, wards for people with mental health problems and wards for older people with mental health problems all remained rated as Good.
Community-based mental health services for adults of working age and long stay rehabilitation mental health wards for adults of working age were rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors saw that teams did not always have the required disciplines to meet the psychosocial and rehabilitation needs of patients. There was limited access to psychology at two long-stay rehabilitation mental health wards.
On the Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units inspectors found that the service did not always reflect safe practice because they did not adhere to trust policies in relation to medicines management.
Inspectors identified a number of outstanding areas of practice.
The trust was providing excellent leadership and guidance following child sexual exploitation issues in the local area. The trust had looked nationally and internationally for a model of best practice, although nothing was identified which would improve on the advice and guidance provided.
The trust was working jointly with the Prince’s Trust to develop apprenticeship opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities, which has resulted in a number of young people developing the skills enabling them to apply for permanent positions within the trust.
Managers promoted integration across the mental and physical health wards and were developing plans for mental health nurses to work alongside nurses providing acute intermediate care.
However, there are areas where the trust must improve:
- In acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, the trust must ensure that nurse call alarm systems are in place in all bedrooms throughout the service. The organisation must also make sure that activity schedules are in place and therapeutic activities are taking place on weekends.
- In the long stay and rehabilitation wards for people with mental health problems the trust has to take sure that staff assess the risks to the health and safety of patients and others while they participate in group activities and therapies
- In community mental health services for adults of working age the trust must ensure all medication records contain up-to-date information about patient allergy status.
You can see the latest ratings grids on pages 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the inspection report.
Dr Paul Lelliott Deputy Chief Inspector (and lead for mental health) said:
“Overall, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust are performing well having retained their rating of Good. Of particular note is the manner in which they responded to the local child exploitation issue which was exemplary.
“There are areas where they still need to improve and I am sure the trust board will reflect on their overall rating for safe which went down from Good to Requires Improvement.
“This was the trust’s first review of leadership under our new approach to inspection: we could see that the trust board and senior leadership team had the appropriate range of skills, knowledge and experience to perform their role.
“We will continue to monitor the service and return at some time in the future to check on progress.”
Ends
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Overall, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust are performing well
Dr Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (and lead for mental health)