During an assessment of Community mental health services for people with a learning disability or autism
We inspected 3 The Beeches on 24 February 2026.
3 The Beeches provides a community assessment service for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and treatment packages for people with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD. Assessments were provided for adults, children and young people. Patients could visit the service at their office, but many appointments were carried out remotely.
The service provides support for people who have a diagnosis of ADHD and co-occurring addictive behaviours including moderate alcohol use.
The service also provides autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments, but not treatment, and other services such as coaching which are not regulated by CQC.
Staff assessed and managed risks to patients and themselves well. Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse and the service worked with other agencies to do so. However, staff had not all received the appropriate level of training to identify potential safeguarding concerns. The service used systems and processes to safely prescribe medicines. The service managed patient safety incidents well. The building was safe, clean, well-furnished and maintained, and fit for purpose.
Staff assessed the physical and mental health of all patients. They developed individual care plans which were reviewed regularly through multidisciplinary discussion and updated as needed. Staff provided a range of treatment and care for patients based on national guidance and best practice. The staff team included or had access to the specialists required to meet the needs of patients.
Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness. They respected patients’ privacy and dignity. They understood the individual needs of patients and supported patients to understand and manage their care, treatment or condition. Staff involved patients in care planning and risk assessment and actively sought their feedback on the quality of care provided. Staff informed and involved families and carers appropriately.
Staff managed access to the service well. The service met the needs of all patients, including those with a protected characteristic. The service treated concerns and complaints seriously and investigated them. The service asked patients for feedback about the service.
We rated the service as good. The service had made improvements and was no longer in breach of the regulations identified at the last inspection. Staff could now access policies and procedures, which were regularly reviewed. The service now had a vision and values that staff were aware of. The building was now appropriately risk assessed and any areas of concern were addressed promptly. There were now appropriate first aid arrangements in place. The service now had robust governance processes, and a risk register that was reviewed regularly. Staff now had regularly documented supervision.
However, the service was in breach of regulations with regards to staff not always receiving the appropriate level of safeguarding training that was necessary for their role and contact with patients.
Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
The provider had policies and procedures to ensure that patients or their parents could give informed consent, and where applicable, followed the Mental Capacity Act. Staff recorded capacity and consent in the care records. Staff were aware of these policies and procedures.
Staff took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions. For patients who might have impaired mental capacity, staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent appropriately. They did this on a decision-specific basis, usually in relation to medicines.
If a patient lacked capacity or was too young to make decisions for themselves the staff would work with others in their best interests, recognising the importance of the person’s wishes, feelings, culture and history.