Barnsley Hospice makes significant improvements and is now rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

Published: 25 January 2023 Page last updated: 25 January 2023
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Barnsley Hospice has been rated outstanding following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November.

CQC inspected the hospice, run by Barnsley Hospice Appeal, and found a service that had rapidly improved and where people now benefitted from outstanding care. 

The hospice was previously rated as inadequate overall and inspectors found that leadership and staff had worked extremely hard to turn things around to ensure people were receiving exemplary care.

Following the inspection, the service was rated outstanding overall and for being safe, caring and well-led. It was rated good for being responsive and effective.  

Sarah Dronsfield, deputy director of operations, Network North, said:

“When we returned to Barnsley Hospice, we were extremely impressed by the substantial improvements the service had made since we last inspected.

“We previously found significant safety concerns regarding the service’s clinical assessment reviews, risk identification of patients, admission assessment processes and COVID-19 management.  

“Barnsley Hospice staff have taken action to comply with these areas and we were delighted to see so many improvements and areas of outstanding practice across the service.

“People are now protected by a strong comprehensive safety system and the team have a focus on openness, transparency and learning when things go wrong.

“The environment on the inpatient unit was quiet and calming and we saw people were relaxed during our inspection. Staff were observed completing visual checks whilst patients were resting, and assistance was offered throughout.

“People are truly respected and treated as individuals with staff going the extra mile to ensure their emotional and practical needs are always met.

“Recent feedback showed that 100% of people said their privacy and dignity was respected and staff were polite and treated them with courtesy. We saw many thank you cards displayed around the ward area which reflected this.

“We are very pleased to award the service an outstanding rating and the whole team deserve to be congratulated for all their hard work and commitment.”

 CQC inspectors found:

  • There was a strong, visible person-centred culture. Staff were highly motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity
  • Relationships between people who use the service, those close to them, and staff were strong, caring, respectful and supportive
  • Staff always empowered people who used the service to have a voice and to realise their potential
  • Comprehensive and successful leadership strategies were in place to ensure and sustain delivery and to develop the desired culture
  • Staff showed determination and creativity to overcome obstacles to delivering care
  • Staff at all levels were actively encouraged to speak up and raise concerns, and all policies and procedures positively supported this process
  • There was a strong collaboration, team-working and support across all functions and a common focus on improving the quality and sustainability of care and people’s experiences.

Contact information

For enquiries about this press release, email regional.comms@cqc.org.uk.

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.