- Independent mental health service
Cygnet Sherwood House and Cygnet Hospital Sherwood
Assessment report published 12 February 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
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.
People's experience of this service
During our assessment, we spoke with 9 patients. They told us staff were kind and supportive. One patient said, “It’s all ok, staff are alright.”
Most patients told us that the food and drink provided was good. One patient said, “I can get drinks when I want them,” however, another told us they did not like the coffee that was available.
Patients told us staff supported them to access their Section 17 leave. Section 17 of the Mental Health Act (MHA) allows a patient’s responsible clinician (RC) to authorise a leave of absence from the ward for a specific occasion or occasions and/or specific period. The patient’s RC may also place other conditions on a patient’s leave of absence, including whether they need to be accompanied by staff. They described how staff helped them prepare for visits to the local area and put safety measures in place for times when they might feel unsafe away from the hospital.
One patient described how staff supported them to take home leave to spend time with a family member who was unwell and explained how much this meant to them. The service collected feedback from patients about their care through surveys and community meetings.
Although patients told us they were happy with their care, our assessment identified elements of care that did not meet expected standards.