18-20 May 2021
During a routine inspection
Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:
- The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe and clean. The wards had enough nurses and doctors. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
- Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
- The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards. Managers ensured that these staff received training and appraisal. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
- Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Most patients felt staff treated them with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. They involved patients and families and carers in care decisions.
- The service was well led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.
However, we found the following issues that the provider needed to improve:
- We found a blanket restriction within the hospital during our inspection. Patients on Chester ward were being made to use plastic cutlery. However, we were informed shortly afterwards that metal cutlery had been ordered so the provider had addressed this.
- Managers did not always ensure staff received regular supervision. An action plan was in place for low compliance with supervision on Birch ward.