- Independent mental health service
St Andrew's Healthcare - Essex
Assessment report published 1 July 2026
Contents
Ratings - Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
Our view of the service
The service provided safe care. The ward environments were pleasant, safe and clean. The wards had enough staff and ward teams had access to the full range of specialists to meet the needs of patients. Staff minimised the use of restrictive practices and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding. Staff completed thorough risk assessments of wards and individualised risk assessments with patients and updated these regularly and/or when risk presentation changed. Managers ensured staff received training, supervision and appraisal, and had developed strategies to boost staff wellbeing and recognise staff achievements. Feedback from patients and family members about the service was very positive. Patients told us they felt safe, and that staff were caring and treated them with kindness and respect.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 11 patients during the inspection visit. Patients felt safe on the wards and wards were clean and well-maintained. They told us food was of good quality and on Benfleet and Frinton ward they were always able to make themselves hot or cold drinks whenever they wanted. On Audley ward, staff would assist patients to get drinks because of the increased risks for patients who were very unwell. Patients were happy with the facilities available to them at the hospital, including the outdoor space, the sports hall, the gym, café and education centre. Patients were encouraged to have structure to their day and engage in meaningful activities. Staff were responsive and supportive when they wanted to talk and knew when they were upset or having a bad day, offering extra support and reassurance at these times.
Patients felt there were enough staff on the ward, and staff were lovely, caring and always respected their privacy and dignity. Several patients told us they couldn’t fault the staff and that staff had ‘gone the extra mile’, ‘made a big difference’ and ‘saved my life’. One patient told us how staff respected and cared for them as a person and were genuinely delighted when they made progress with their recovery. Two patients told us how staff supported them when they arrived at the hospital with just the clothes they were wearing and how they were given clothes, toiletries, nightwear and dressing gowns to help them feel comfortable on the ward.
We spoke with 4 family members of patients. They told us staff were friendly, kind, and highly skilled in managing challenging behaviour building strong, respectful relationships with patients whilst maintaining professionalism with carers. Communication was generally clear and supportive, with care and treatment, including explaining medication and side effects well. They told us staff often went above and beyond to support both patients and families. However, 1 family member said they were given confusing information regarding their loved one’s discharge from hospital and there was a lack of information given to them when the patient was involved in an incident with another patient.