Hospice in the Weald

Updated 28 April 2025

We carried out an announced short notice assessment of Hospice in the Weald on 3 June 2025 and focused on the assessment of hospice services for adults including the hospice at home service. We completed this assessment because of the length of time since the previous assessment. We assessed this service using our single assessment framework and looked at all key questions and all quality statements.

At our last assessment, we rated the service as outstanding under a different methodology. At this assessment, we rated the service as good.

We rated caring as outstanding because staff focused on what mattered most to people. They supported independence and gave people real choice and control, which helped them feel respected and valued.

We rated safe, effective, responsive and well-led as good. Staff provided safe care and treatment that improved people’s comfort and wellbeing. The service adapted care to individual needs and used clear systems to keep care consistent and high quality.

The service had some areas of the environment in need of refurbishment to meet infection prevention and control standards. Staff did not always discuss off‑licence medicine use with people, limiting how well individuals were informed.

In addition, we identified 2 breaches of regulation in relation to people’s safe care and treatment and good governance. The breaches related to assessment of risks and policies and procedures.

We have asked the service for an action plan in response to the breaches identified.

Hospice in the Weald is a registered charity that provides palliative and end of life care for adults and children living in West Kent and East Sussex. At this assessment, we reviewed the care provided to adults. The hospice has 15 inpatient beds for adults and provides care for people in their own homes and symptom support for people with end of life care needs in local care homes. People and their families can access an on-site wellbeing service. This includes counselling, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. The service also offers ‘living well’ activities, such as complementary therapies like reflexology and reiki, as well as yoga and craft sessions.

We visited the inpatient ward and the wellbeing centre. We spoke with 8 people using the service or those close to them and reviewed 5 patient records and 30 policies. We spoke with 20 staff members including leaders of all levels, nurses, doctors, allied healthcare professionals, administrators, healthcare assistants and volunteers. We observed meetings where a multidisciplinary team of staff discussed the care needs and plans for patients. We also reviewed data provided by the service following the on-site assessment.

Updated 28 April 2025

People using the service, and those close to them, told us they felt safe. They said they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Staff were described as kind, caring, and professional. People told us that staff responded quickly to their needs and were compassionate in the way they offered support.

Feedback from people and their families was overwhelmingly positive about the kindness and compassion of staff. Several people told us they felt staff always listened to them and respected their wishes. One person said staff were “always willing to go the extra mile to make you feel good about yourself,” and another described staff as “encouraging them to live their best life.”

Families also shared that the service continued to support them through their grief, which they valued highly and said made a meaningful difference to their experience.