Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre

Updated 9 November 2025

Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre is provided by Active Neuro Limited. Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre is a South-east London service providing specialist inpatient rehabilitation for individuals with an acquired brain injury or other complex neurological conditions. The service comprises of 2 units and provides 39 beds for male and female patients. Thames unit admitted patients with complex cognitive or behavioural problems following a brain injury or because of neurological conditions. Heathside unit mostly admits people requiring Level 2 complex disability management and restorative rehab following a traumatic or acquired brain injury.

This was an unannounced, focused inspection carried out in response to concerns raised with us about the service’s culture. The service was last inspected in 2023, when it was rated requires improvement. Since then, the provider had made several improvements, and during this inspection we saw further positive progress. However, we also identified several concerns in specific areas of practice. Taking all the evidence into account, the service’s overall rating has improved to good.

The inspection team found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014:
Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment): While some improvements had been made in medicines management, including the availability of emergency medicines, issues remained with stock control, storage, and oversight of ‘when required’ medicines. Care plans were not consistently updated to reflect current risks, which limited assurance that risks were effectively monitored.
Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment): At the time of inspection, some bathrooms and toilets were out of service, hot water was unavailable in parts of the service, and furniture and facilities were not always well maintained. These issues affected the quality and suitability of the environment.
Regulation 17 (Good governance): Governance systems had developed, including structured meetings and improved incident reporting. However, gaps in assurance remained and improvements were not consistently embedded. Staff reported mixed experiences with leadership, and communication was not always effective. These issues limited the effectiveness of oversight.

The provider had made progress since the last inspection. We saw improvements in incident management, with staff demonstrating a clear understanding of reporting processes and engaging in regular discussions of incidents. A monthly “lessons learned” bulletin supported shared learning. Training compliance had improved significantly, particularly in the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), rising from 62% to 91%. The service had also strengthened its approach to promoting healthier lifestyles through smoking cessation programmes, exercise sessions, and dietary support integrated into care planning.

The provider is required to continue addressing the identified breaches to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and improve the overall quality and safety of the service.

Updated 6 March 2026

Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre is provided by Active Neuro Limited. Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre is a South-east London service providing specialist inpatient rehabilitation for individuals with an acquired brain injury or other complex neurological conditions. The service comprises of 2 units and provides 39 beds for male and female patients. Thames unit admitted patients with complex cognitive or behavioural problems following a brain injury or because of neurological conditions. Heathside unit mostly admits people requiring Level 2 complex disability management and restorative rehab following a traumatic or acquired brain injury.

This was an unannounced, focused inspection carried out in response to concerns raised with us about the service’s culture. The service was last inspected in 2023, when it was rated requires improvement. Since then, the provider had made several improvements, and during this inspection we saw further positive progress. However, we also identified several concerns in specific areas of practice. Taking all the evidence into account, the service’s overall rating has improved to good.

The inspection team found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014:
Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment): While some improvements had been made in medicines management, including the availability of emergency medicines, issues remained with stock control, storage, and oversight of ‘when required’ medicines. Care plans were not consistently updated to reflect current risks, which limited assurance that risks were effectively monitored.
Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment): At the time of inspection, some bathrooms and toilets were out of service, hot water was unavailable in parts of the service, and furniture and facilities were not always well maintained. These issues affected the quality and suitability of the environment.
Regulation 17 (Good governance): Governance systems had developed, including structured meetings and improved incident reporting. However, gaps in assurance remained and improvements were not consistently embedded. Staff reported mixed experiences with leadership, and communication was not always effective. These issues limited the effectiveness of oversight.

The provider had made progress since the last inspection. We saw improvements in incident management, with staff demonstrating a clear understanding of reporting processes and engaging in regular discussions of incidents. A monthly “lessons learned” bulletin supported shared learning. Training compliance had improved significantly, particularly in the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), rising from 62% to 91%. The service had also strengthened its approach to promoting healthier lifestyles through smoking cessation programmes, exercise sessions, and dietary support integrated into care planning.

The provider is required to continue addressing the identified breaches to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and improve the overall quality and safety of the service.