The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection at children and young people’s services at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in March.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a district general hospital serving the population of Chesterfield, North Derbyshire and beyond. It provides a full range of acute services plus a 24-hour emergency department and specialist children’s services including a children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS).
The unannounced inspection was carried out following information of concern regarding understaffing and safety highlighted to the commission from staff working in services for children and young people and the paediatric assessment unit within urgent and emergency care services.
Inspectors visited children and young people’s services and the paediatric assessment unit, both at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Inspectors focused on safeguarding, effective staffing, care provision, integration and continuity, shared direction and culture as well as freedom to speak up in the key questions safe, responsive and well led. The key questions were not rated at this assessment.
Following the inspection, the overall ratings for both services, as well as the ratings for safe, responsive, caring and well-led, therefore remain rated as good. Effective remains rated requires improvement.
The overall rating for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust remains as good.
Inspectors found:
In children and young people’s services:
- Staff understood how to protect children, young people and their families from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so
- Registered general nurses with specific paediatric competency were employed to support staffing levels
- The service provided evidence of actions and learning from safety incidents
- Staff confirmed that the temporary reduction of beds within Nightingale ward to ensure children and young people’s safety had achieved a positive outcome
- Positive changes were recognised by staff which have improved the connection between them and senior leaders.
In the paediatric assessment unit:
- Staff understood how to protect children, young people and their families from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so
- Staff previously felt that staffing levels were unsafe, however, the trust provided assurances and reduced beds to meet recommended safe staffing levels
- Registered general nurses with specific paediatric competency were employed to support staffing levels
- The ward team were extremely complementary of each other describing a friendly and close team
- A lead nurse supported staff with career development opportunities.