- Independent mental health service
The Priory Hospital Chelmsford
Assessment report published 17 October 2025
Contents
Ratings - Hospital inpatient-based substance misuse services
Our view of the service
The service provided safe care. The ward environment was pleasant, safe and clean. The ward had enough staff and the ward team 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 the ward and individualised risk assessments with patients and updated these regularly and/ or when risk presentation changed. Managers ensured that staff received training, supervision and appraisal and had developed strategies to boost staff wellbeing and recognise staff achievements. Feedback from patients and carers about the service was very positive. Patients told us they felt safe, and that staff were caring and treated them with kindness and respect.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance
Mental Health Act
Patients being treated for addiction and substance misuse were admitted to Chelmer Ward. The service did not admit patients detained under the Mental Health Act to Chelmer Ward.
Mental Capacity Act
The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it.
Staff received and kept up to date with training in the Mental Capacity Act and had a good understanding of the five principles. Training on the Mental Capacity Act was mandatory, and the compliance rate was 87.3% for all staff at the time of inspection.
Staff knew where to get advice from within the provider regarding the Mental Capacity Act. Staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent clearly each time a patient needed to make an important decision. Staff completed an assessment of each patient’s capacity to consent to admission and treatment on admission.
People's experience of this service
Patients being treated for addiction and substance misuse were admitted to Chelmer Ward. During our inspection visit on 4 September 2025, we spoke with 2 patients and reviewed community meeting minutes. Patients told us they felt safe on the ward and all the staff were lovely, kind, caring and responsive. One patient told us 'I feel really comfortable and safe here’. Both the patients we spoke with said the ward was clean and well-maintained, the food was good quality and there was always fresh fruit available.
We looked at the patient discharge survey data for May to August 2025 and could see that 100% of respondents said they would recommend Priory Chelmsford if a friend or family member needed a similar service and 100% of respondents said they felt the treatment and support they had received had helped with their recovery.
We spoke with 2 family members of patients. They were very positive about the service and said their loved ones had received effective treatment. They said staff were kind and caring and the environment was clean, comfortable and pleasant. Both family members were positive about the support they had received as carers and how they would be able to continue to attend a family support group for up to a year after their loved one was discharged. One person told us that a member of staff had been a ‘lifesaver’.