- Independent mental health service
Cygnet Aspen Clinic
Assessment report published 16 September 2025
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
The service provided safe care. The service had enough staff to deliver care for patients. Staff completed risk assessments of patients and updated these regularly. There were systems and processes to protect patients from abuse and neglect. The environment was clean, well-maintained and fit for purpose.
Care and treatment was delivered in line with national guidance and best practice. Patients had access to a range of specialists to help meet their needs. Staff received training, supervision and appraisal. The service had processes for the effective implementation of the Mental Health Act.
Staff treated patients with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. They promoted patients' independence, so they knew their rights and had choice and control over their care, treatment and wellbeing.
Staff delivered person-centred care and involved patients in decisions about their care and treatment. Patients and carers both had access to an advocacy service. Patients were aware of how to raise concerns, give feedback or make a complaint.
Managers were experienced and had a good understanding of the service and a clear overview of service performance. The service had a clear model of care that was shared with staff and patients.
At our last inspection of this service, in May 2022, we rated it as Requires Improvement. The service had made improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations. We now rate the service as Good.
People's experience of this service
Patients we spoke with were generally positive about the service. They told us staff were usually available for them, and that they had regular 1-1s. They felt they could approach staff and managers, and could make a complaint if necessary.
Patients said there were activities every day, and that staff tried to engage them in these. At evenings and weekends the activities were variable, and it could be a bit boring at times.
We spoke with some autistic people about their experience of the service. They were positive about changes to the service that had been made to support them. This included individualised care plans and positive behavioural support (PBS) plans, communication cards, dimmer bedroom lighting, and the sensory room. They said that staff from across the multidisciplinary team were good at explaining things to them, and had adapted to working with them.
Patients have access to independent mental health advocacy (IMHA) and an expert by experience (EbyE). Both regularly visited the service. There was a dedicated advocacy service just for carers. The advocates and EbyE were generally positive about the service. They thought it was person-centred, and patient focused, and that most staff had a positive and caring attitude towards patients. They said that managers and staff were responsive and wanted to engage patients in their care.
A discharge survey was distributed in January 2025. There were a limited number of responses, but the feedback was very positive about the support people had when they were in the service and the impact it had had on them. They had felt safe in the service, and were positive about staff.
Patients were encouraged to be involved in making changes and decisions about the service. This included in the development of the service and improvements to the environment.