CQC rates learning disability and autism wards at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as Requires Improvement

Published: 15 February 2017 Page last updated: 12 May 2022

England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated wards for people with learning disabilities or autism provided by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation as Requires Improvement following an inspection in October 2016.

The full report is available on our website

Dr Paul Lelliott, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (and CQC lead for mental health), said:

“Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides inpatient and community mental health services across Cumbria."

 “This inspection focused on wards for people with learning disabilities or autism. At our previous inspection we rated the wards as Inadequate. We found that the trust has made some improvements and, to reflect this, we have amended the rating for this service to Requires Improvement."

“Although we found staff to be caring, the trust must make further improvements to ensure people receive a safe and well-led service."

“We have told the trust where they must make improvements, and we will return to check on their progress in due course.”

Some of the findings from the report included:

  • There was no clear process to review and learn from incidents and staff did not feel that they received constructive feedback about them. This was something that had not improved since the previous inspection in November 2015.
  • The uptake rates of some elements of staff training, including mental health legislation, were below the trust target of 80%.
  • Staff did not demonstrate a good understanding of duty of candour (legal duty on trusts to inform and apologise to patients if there have been mistakes in their care that have led to significant harm.)

ENDS

For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966. 

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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.