The Blue Tree Clinic

Updated 8 August 2023

The Blue Tree Clinic is an independent doctor to providing a range of mental health interventions to patients experiencing autism, ADHD, addiction anxiety, bipolar affective disorder, eating disorder, post natal depression and post traumatic stress disorder. The services provided by the psychiatrist at the service are covered by regulation. Services provided by other therapists contracted to the service fall outside of the scope of registration.

The Blue Tree Clinic Ltd is regulated by the Care Quality Commission to provide the regulated activity treatment of diseases disorder or injury. The service is a non-urgent service. The service accepts self referrals and referrals from GPs and specialists. The service takes some ‘pro bono’ patients. The service has both adult and child patients.

The service operates Monday – Friday from 10am to 5pm. Some out of hours appointments could also be accommodated on request.

How we inspected this service

During the inspection visit to the service, the inspection team

• checked the safety, maintenance and cleanliness of the premises
• spoke with 5 patients who were using the service
• spoke with the registered manager
• reviewed 6 patient care and treatment records
• reviewed information and documents relating to the operation and management of the service.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?

These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 8 August 2023

This service has not been rated previously.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Blue Tree Clinic. The reason for the inspection as part of our inspection programme. This was the first inspection of the service.

The Blue Tree Clinc provides a range of non-urgent mental health treatments.

The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the following regulated activities, treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The medical director and consultant paychiatrist is also the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We spoke to 5 patients. All the comments were positive, describing caring, kind and professional staff who were instrumental in bringing in positive change. Patients said that they received effective treatment and support in an efficient non-judgemental tailored way. They felt fully involved in their care and Saif the service was friendly and accommodating and staff always respected the privacy and dignity.

Our key findings were:

• The service provided safe care. The premises where clients were seen were safe and clean. The service had clear systems to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse. Staff assessed and managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to patient safety.
• Staff developed holistic care and treatment plans informed by a comprehensive assessment in collaboration with patients and carers. Care and treatment were planned and delivered in line with current legislation and best practice guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and suitable to the needs of the patients. The service evaluated and reflected on the quality of care provided to ensure it was delivered to a high standard.
• The service had a range of specialists required to meet the needs of the patients under their care. Leaders ensured that these staff received training, supervision and appraisal. Staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and relevant services outside the organisation.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, and understood the individual needs of patients. They actively involved patients and carers in decisions and care planning.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the service within an appropriate timescale for their needs. Staff had alternative pathways for people whose needs it could not meet.
• The service took complaints and concerns seriously and responded to them appropriately to improve the quality of care.
• The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that its procedures ran smoothly. The provider had a clear vision for improving the service and promoting good patient outcomes.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services