The Care Quality Commission
  • Mental Health
  • Independent mental health service

Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Rufford Colliery Lane, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG21 0HR (01623) 499010

Provided and run by:
Cygnet Behavioural Health Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment of Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units

We completed an assessment and inspection of Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood between 24 March 2026 and 2 April 2026.

Cygnet Hospital Sherwood provides a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) for 12 men and 2 acute mental health wards for 32 men. These wards are Bramble Ward (16 Bed), and Treetops Ward (16 beds). The services provide care for men who may be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

On the same site the service has a 30-bed specialist high-support inpatient rehabilitation (level 2) called Sherwood House. This service was last inspected in June 2025 and is currently rated as requires improvement. We did not inspect these wards as part of this assessment.

The service registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 17 November 2010 to deliver the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury. Cygnet Hospital Sherwood opened in January 2024. The service has a controlled drugs accountable officer and a Registered Manager.

At this assessment, we rated Cygnet Hospital Sherwood as Good. We found 1 breach of regulation relating to safe care and treatment.

Staff did not always assess risks to patients’ health and safety or take action to reduce those risks, which meant patients’ were not always protected from avoidable harm. The providers systems for monitoring and improving the quality and safety of the service were not always effective.

Mental Health Act

  • The provider reported 100% of staff received training in the Mental Health Act and had a good understanding of the Mental Health Act, the Code of Practice and the guiding principles.
  • Staff had easy access to administrative support and legal advice on implementation of the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice. Staff knew who their Mental Health Act administrators were.
  • The provider had relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance.
  • Staff had easy access to local Mental Health Act policies and procedures and to the Code of Practice.
  • Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy.
  • Staff explained to patients their rights under the Mental Health Act in a way that they could understand, repeated it as required and recorded that they had done it. We saw evidence of this in care records reviewed. Staff also discussed this in daily meetings.
  • Staff ensured that patients were able to take Section 17 leave (permission for patients to leave hospital) when this had been granted. Staff completed section 17 leave forms correctly, including a description of what the patient was wearing.
  • Staff stored copies of patients' detention papers and associated records (for example, Section 17 leave forms) correctly and so that they were available to all staff that needed access to them.

Mental Capacity Act

  • The provider reported 100% of staff received training in the Mental Capacity Act and had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, particularly the five statutory principles.
  • The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, including deprivation of liberty safeguards. Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it.
  • Staff knew where to get advice from within the provider regarding the Mental Capacity Act, including deprivation of liberty safeguards.
  • 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 with regard to significant decisions. We saw evidence of this in care records reviewed.
  • The service had arrangements to monitor adherence to the Mental Capacity Act.
  • Staff audited the application of the Mental Capacity Act and took action on any learning that resulted from it.

During an assessment of the hospital overall

We completed an assessment and inspection of Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood between 24 March 2026 and 2 April 2026.

This assessment was carried out following CQC’s new approach to assessment; Single Assessment Framework (SAF). We looked at all quality statements under each key question. We carried out a mix of onsite and offsite inspection and assessment activity between 24 and 25 March 2026 and 2 April 2026. This was an unannounced assessment, which means the provider was not told an assessment was going to be starting beforehand.

Cygnet Behavioural Health Limited is a leading independent provider of mental health and social care services for adults and children in the UK. Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood are in Rainworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and provide inpatient care for men across two distinct services on the same hospital site.

Cygnet Hospital Sherwood provides a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) for 12 men and 2 acute mental health wards for 32 men. These wards are Bramble Ward (16 Bed), and Treetops Ward (16 beds). The services provide care for men who may be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

On the same site the service has a 30-bed specialist high-support inpatient rehabilitation (level 2) called Sherwood House. This service was last inspected in June 2025 and is currently rated as requires improvement. We did not inspect these wards as part of this assessment.

The service registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 17 November 2010 to deliver the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury. Cygnet Hospital Sherwood opened in January 2024. The service has a controlled drugs accountable officer and a Registered Manager.

At this assessment, we rated Cygnet Hospital Sherwood as Good. We found 1 breach of regulation relating to safe care and treatment.

Staff did not always assess risks to patients’ health and safety or take action to reduce those risks, which meant patients’ were not always protected from avoidable harm. The providers' systems for monitoring and improving the quality and safety of the service were not always effective.

During an assessment of Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults

We completed an assessment of Cygnet Sherwood House with a site visit on 18 and 19 June 2025. We undertook the assessment in response to anonymous whistleblowing concerns about a lack of management oversight and governance in relation to a recent incident of illicit drug use by patients at the service. We last inspected Cygnet Sherwood House in April 2019 as part of a comprehensive mental health inspection. The service was rated as outstanding overall.

Cygnet Sherwood House is a 30-bed specialist high support inpatient rehabilitation (level 2) service for men who may be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

At our last assessment, we rated the service as outstanding overall. At this assessment, we rated the service as requires improvement. We identified three breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment, good governance, and premises and equipment.

Staff did not always assess risks to patients health and safety or take action to reduce those risks. This meant patients were not always protected from avoidable harm. The provider’s systems for monitoring and improving the quality and safety of the service were not always effective, and leaders did not consistently identify or address issues. In addition, the premises and equipment were not always kept clean, suitable for their intended purpose, or properly maintained, which increased the risk of infection and affected patients comfort and safety.

We requested that the provider submit an action plan to address the concerns identified during this assessment.

Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance

Staff were trained in and had a good understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983, the Code of Practice and the guiding principles.

Staff had easy access to administrative support and legal advice on implementation of the Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice. Staff knew who their Mental Health Act administrators were.

The provider had relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance.

We saw evidence that patients had been informed of their rights under the Mental Health Act and the service provided appropriate access to advocacy.

Staff ensured that patients were able to take Section 17 leave (permission for patients to leave hospital) when this has been granted.

During an assessment of the hospital overall

Cygnet Behavioural Health Limited is a leading independent provider of mental health and social care services for adults and children in the UK. Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood are in Rainworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and provide inpatient care for men across two distinct services on the same hospital site.

Cygnet Sherwood House provides a 30-bed specialist high-support inpatient rehabilitation (level 2) service for men who may be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

In January 2024, the hospital opened 3 new wards on the Rainworth site to offer Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and acute mental health services for men. These wards are Fern Ward (PICU), Bramble Ward, and Treetops Ward (acute mental health). We did not inspect these wards as part of this assessment.

The service registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 17 November 2010 to deliver the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury. The service has a controlled drugs accountable officer and a Registered Manager.

We assessed Cygnet Sherwood House with a site visit on 18 and 19 June 2025. We undertook the assessment in response to anonymous whistleblowing concerns about a lack of management oversight and governance following a recent incident of illicit drug use by patients at the service. We last inspected Cygnet Sherwood House in April 2019 as part of a comprehensive mental health inspection, and we rated the service as outstanding overall.

At this assessment, we rated the service as requires improvement. We found 3 breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment, good governance, and premises and equipment.

Staff did not always assess risks to patients’ health and safety or take action to reduce those risks, which meant patients’ were not always protected from avoidable harm. The providers systems for monitoring and improving the quality and safety of the service were not always effective, and leaders did not consistently identify or address issues. Staff did not always keep premises and equipment clean, suitable for their intended purpose, or properly maintained, which increased the risk of infection and affected patients’ comfort and safety.

We requested that the provider submit an action plan to address the concerns identified during this assessment.

27th and 28th February 2019

During a routine inspection

We rated Sherwood House as outstanding because:

  • There was a strong, visible person-centred culture. Staff were highly motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity. Staff actively involved patients, families and carers in care decisions to make sure patients were active participants in their care and treatment.
  • Feedback from patients, relatives and stakeholders was continually positive about the way staff treated patients. Patients told us that staff went the extra mile and their care and support exceeded their expectations.
  • The service was tailored to meet the needs of individual people and was delivered in a way to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care.
  • There was a proactive approach to understanding the needs of different groups of people and to deliver care in a way that meets these needs and promotes equality. This included patients with complex needs.
  • The service provided safe care. The environment was safe and clean. There were 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 cared for in a mental health high dependency rehabilitation ward and in line with national best practice guidance. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
  • The hospital team included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients. Managers ensured that these staff received training, supervision and appraisal. The staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the hospital 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.
  • Staff planned and managed discharge well and liaised well with services that would provide aftercare. As a result, discharge was rarely delayed for other than a clinical reason
  • The service worked to a recognised model of high dependency mental health rehabilitation. It was well led, and the governance processes ensured that hospital procedures ran smoothly.

However:

  • There had been four consultant psychiatrists in the last two years and the current one was also leaving. Patients said this affected their wellbeing as they thought they had to explain how they felt repeatedly to a new doctor.
  • One medication prescribed to a patient for the side effects of their mental health medication was not included on their consent to treatment form.

7 November 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our previous inspection in April 2016, all domains except for effective were rated as good. Following our inspection on 7 November 2016, we have changed the rating for effective from requires improvement to good because:

  • Cambian had updated the corporate Mental Health Act policy in line with the Code of Practice.
  • Staff reviewed patients’ risk before section 17 leave took place. Section 17 leave is any leave of absence that is authorised by the responsible clinician, which enables a detained patient to go outside the hospital grounds for any period of time. Section 17 leave paperwork was detailed, up to date and stored securely. Detention paperwork, including section papers and renewals, was up-to-date and stored correctly within the patients’ active file.
  • Staff were experienced and qualified and there was a range of professionals within the multidisciplinary team. Staff attended a range of team meetings, including morning handovers for both nursing staff and the multidisciplinary team. We saw evidence that staff took part in clinical audits and monitored outcome measures using recognised tools. All staff had completed training in the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
  • The care plans we saw were up to date, personalised, holistic and recovery-oriented. Patients were actively involved in their care and treatment and were engaged in a range of therapeutic activities. Staff had a good understanding of individual patients’ risk and this was closely monitored to support patients towards rehabilitation. We saw evidence of good physical health monitoring, as well as good relationships with local GPs and acute hospitals.
  • Staff followed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Maudsley guidelines, including guidelines for schizophrenia in adults when prescribing medication and for psychosis. Information was stored securely and key information was accessible to all staff.

However:

  • There was no clear timeframe to the supervision schedule and this had resulted in some staff not receiving supervision within the recommended timeframe. However, we saw significant improvements to the supervision schedule and staff reported that the quality and frequency of supervision had improved since our last inspection.
  • Capacity assessments lacked detail of the discussion between the assessor and the patient and therefore it was unclear how the decision about the patient’s capacity was reached.
  • Consent to treatment forms were unclear as they contained patient signatures when the form indicated that the patient lacked capacity.
  • We did not see any evidence of advance statements.
  • Only five of the 30 therapeutic programmes and logs had been signed by the patient. Staff told us these therapeutic timetables were undergoing review and we saw evidence that patients were actively involved in therapeutic activity.

11/04/2016

During a routine inspection

We rated Sherwood House as good because:

  • the environment was visibly clean and well looked after and detailed records of the cleaning processes were complete.
  • emergency equipment was checked regularly and all records relating to this were also complete
  • we saw that equipment was well maintained and safety tested
  • there was sufficient staff to meet patient need
  • there were policies and procedures for use of observation and searching patients and staff were adhering to them
  • there were good practices for the ordering, storage and dispensing of medications
  • recognised risk assessments were completed and updated
  • care plans showed evidence of physical health monitoring and there was good links with the local GP practice
  • staff treated patients with dignity and respect and showed an understanding of the patients’ needs at all times during the inspection
  • there was access to advocacy services in line with the Mental Health Act Code of Practice
  • carers and patients told us they felt well cared for and their needs were met
  • there was a choice of food to meet dietary and religious needs and there was access to hot drinks and snacks at all times
  • there was access to spiritual support
  • sickness, absence and staff turnover was low

However;

  • the corporate Mental Health Act policy had not been updated in line with the new Code of Practice
  • it was not recorded that risk assessments had been reviewed prior to section 17 leave
  • it was not clear that patients had been involved in their care plan and care plans were not written in the first person.

3 February 2014

During a routine inspection

Prior to our visit we reviewed all the information we had received from the provider. During the visit we spoke with five patients and asked them for their views. We also spoke with four support workers, a nurse, the manager responsible for training and the registered manager. We also looked at some of the records held in the service including the care files for four people. We observed the support people who used the service received from staff and carried out a brief tour of the building.

We found patients understood the care and treatment choices available to them. A patient told us, 'I have had the mental health act explained to me, I understand why I am here.' We found patients received care and treatment that met their needs. A patient told us, 'There is always someone there to talk to you. They do listen.'

We found patients who used the service were kept safe and protected from harm. Staff knew how to respond to any allegation of abuse. A patient told us, 'I think the staff know what they are doing, they keep us all safe.'

We found the staff team were supported through training and the provider assessed and monitored the quality of the service. Staff told us they felt they had the training they needed. A patient told us, 'I think they take into account my opinion, I am encouraged to give my opinion.'

21 January 2013

During a routine inspection

Prior to our visit we reviewed all the information we had received from the provider. During the visit we spoke with nine patients and asked them for their views. We also spoke with various staff including four support workers, a nurse, head of care and the registered manager. We looked at some of the records held in the hospital including the care files for four patients. We observed the support patients received from staff and carried out a tour of the building.

We found patients gave consent to their care and treatment. A patient who used the service told us, 'I feel I have a say.'

We found patients received care and support that met their needs. A patient told us, 'If you are down they will help you. I've been down, they take it seriously.'

We found the premises were safe and suitable. One patient told us 'I like the way it has been decorated, it is nice.'

We found there were sufficient and suitable staff available. One patient told us, 'There is always a member of staff around. They make time for you. They are approachable.'

We found there were systems to deal with any comments or complaints. One patient told us, 'I have not really had any complains here. I think they would listen to it fairly if I did have one.'

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We did not speak with people as part of this review. At our last review we found that patients felt respected and understood the care and treatment choices available to them. They were satisfied with the support they received from the staff team and one person said they could talk to the staff and they were confident they would be listened to.

9 January 2012

During a routine inspection

One patient told us they would, "Highly recommend the hospital." and part of the reason they liked it was that it was "Jammed packed with activities."

Other patients said, "I feel well respected, the staff feel like friends to me." And "I've been involved and given copies of my care plan. I can keep that it my room."

We were given examples by patients of how they were encouraged to become more independent and were supported to be involved in all aspects of life at the hospital. We were told, "I feel I have control over my life."

We were told that patients using the service could make use of formal opportunities to provide feedback about the hospital to the registered provider and were involved in decision making about their care, treatment and support in a variety of ways. One person said they could talk to the staff and they were confident they would be listened to.

Mental Health Act Commissioner reports

Each year, we visit all NHS trusts and independent providers who care for people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act to monitor the care they provide and check that patients' rights are met. Immediate concerns raised by patients on those visits are discussed, if appropriate, with hospital staff.

Our Mental Health Act Commissioners may carry out a number of visits to each provider over a 12-month period, during which they talk to detained patients, staff and managers about how services are provided. In the past, we summarised themes from the visits and published an annual statement followed by the provider's response where applicable. We are looking at different ways to indicate the outcomes of our monitoring in the future.