Womb With A View Grimsby

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• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

We looked for evidence that people were always treated with kindness, empathy and compassion. We checked that people’s privacy and dignity was respected, that they understood that they and their experience of how they were treated and supported mattered. We also looked for evidence that every effort was made to take people’s wishes into account and respect their choices, to achieve the best possible outcomes for them.

This was the first assessment for this service and caring is rated good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

We have not awarded this service a score for Caring.

Find out about when we will not publish a key question score and what we look at when we assess Caring.

The service treated people with kindness, empathy, and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff demonstrated a person-centred approach throughout people's experiences of care.

Staff attitudes and behaviours when interacting with people were discreet, respectful and responsive from entering the premises to leaving. We observed positive interactions throughout the inspection. Staff responded sensitively to people who were anxious or distressed and provided appropriate support, privacy and reassurance when discussing unexpected findings.

We reviewed feedback and spoke to people using the service. Feedback from people who used the service was consistently positive. People described staff as kind, friendly, professional, knowledgeable and supportive. People told us staff helped them feel at ease, took time to answer questions, explained procedures clearly and provided reassurance throughout appointments. Feedback indicated people felt listened to, respected and well cared for. People told us staff involved them in discussions about their care and communicated information clearly and sensitively. One person told us, “Amazing people who really engaged in conversation and were really reassuring, but not over promising." Another person said, "The sonographer was brilliant. They were so patient and explained everything clearly, both to me and to my young children, in a way that was easy for us all to understand." People we spoke with told us they would recommend the service to others.

Staff respected people's privacy and dignity during examinations. Privacy curtains and appropriate coverings were used during intimate procedures, including transvaginal scans, to maintain comfort and dignity. Staff followed policies designed to protect confidentiality and avoided discussing personal information in public areas. Clinical and personal information was handled appropriately and kept confidential.

Staff told us they felt able to raise concerns about disrespectful, discriminatory or abusive behaviour without fear of adverse consequences. They said concerns would be listened to and appropriately addressed by the registered manager.

The service treated people as individuals and ensured care and support reflected their preferences and circumstances.

Staff respected and considered the needs of people and those close to them and adapted appointments where appropriate. For example, staff told us that if a scan needed to change from an abdominal scan to a transvaginal scan, they often made this adjustment. A person we spoke with confirmed this approach and told us staff had responded flexibly to their individual needs.

The service made reasonable adjustments where required and could access interpretation services to support effective communication. Staff told us they adapted their approach to meet individual communication needs.

The service welcomed the involvement of family members and those close to people. Up to six guests could attend appointments. Where young children attended, staff managed arrangements sensitively and safely, asking one parent to remain with the child outside the scanning room if necessary and inviting them into the room at an appropriate point during the appointment. A small play area was available for children.

Staff demonstrated consideration for people's comfort and wellbeing throughout their visit. Complimentary hot and cold refreshments were provided, and information regarding allergens and nutritional content was clearly displayed. Toiletries, including products for both women and men, were also provided for people and those accompanying them should they wish to freshen up following their appointment.

Feedback from people was overwhelmingly positive and highlighted the caring and personalised approach taken by staff. People told the service that staff understood their individual circumstances and provided comfort, reassurance, and emotional support throughout their experience.

Feedback demonstrated that people valued the service's person-centred approach and the attention staff paid to their individual needs. One person told us, "It was a really special experience, so calm, and you could take as long as you needed. Compared to a previous scan where I felt rushed and it wasn't very personal, this felt truly personalised."

People also described the service as "thoughtful and attentive." One person told us that the availability of toiletries following their scan, "really went the extra mile for partners." Other people described staff as "patient and accommodating", particularly when obtaining scan images. They told us staff took additional time to achieve the best possible images and provided these without additional charge when repeat scans were needed. This demonstrated a compassionate approach and a commitment to ensuring people had a positive experience of the service.

The service promoted people's independence, choice, and control by ensuring they had access to clear information about the services available and were able to make informed decisions about using the service.

People could choose from a range of scan packages, and staff were available to discuss the options and answer questions if required.

Staff respected people's preferences and choices throughout their appointment. For example, people chose whether they wished to know the baby's gender, and staff ensured individual wishes were followed. The service also offered a range of keepsake options, including printed and electronic scan images, enabling people to decide how they wished to record and share their experience.

The service made reasonable adjustments to support people's individual needs. Staff gathered information during the booking process to identify any communication needs or support requirements in advance of appointments. Interpretation services could be accessed when required, and staff adapted their approach to help people understand information and make informed decisions.

Staff understood the importance of supporting people and those close to them throughout their care journey. The service welcomed family involvement and enabled people to attend with partners, relatives and friends where appropriate, supporting a personalised and inclusive experience. Staff respected people's choices about who accompanied them during appointments.

Trained chaperones were available and routinely present during transvaginal examinations, supporting people's privacy, dignity, and choice.

The service listened to and understood people's needs, views, and wishes. Staff responded to people's needs at the time they were identified and took action to minimise discomfort, concern, and distress. Staff demonstrated a person-centred approach and adapted their support according to individual circumstances and needs.

During the inspection, we observed staff providing reassurance throughout the appointment, checking people's comfort during scans and offering guidance, such as repositioning, to support effective imaging. Staff listened to people's concerns, responded to questions, and ensured people understood the scanning process and what to expect during their appointment.

Staff identified and responded appropriately to changing circumstances during appointments. Information gathered before and during appointments enabled staff to identify potential risks and support needs.

People and those close to them were involved in discussions about care and treatment. Staff communicated clearly to ensure people understood the scanning process, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) procedures and any next steps. People told us staff took time to explain findings, answer questions and provide reassurance, helping them feel informed, supported and involved in decisions about their care.

A separate clinic room was available to provide privacy for sensitive discussions, blood-taking appointments and situations where additional emotional support was required. Staff recognised that some people attended the service feeling anxious about their pregnancy or became distressed when advised to seek further assessment through NHS or other healthcare services. Staff responded with compassion, reassurance and emotional support and ensured people had access to information about the next steps.

Staff provided emotional support to people and those close to them to minimise distress. The sonographer had received training in delivering difficult news and described how they communicated findings sensitively, honestly, and compassionately. Staff explained concerning findings, supported referrals where needed and ensured people understood the next steps.

The service respected people's privacy when they became upset or distressed. Staff told us they allowed people as much time as needed to process information and provided ongoing emotional support and reassurance. Where appropriate, staff guided people to a private room to discuss findings, referrals, and next steps. This helped ensure people were treated with dignity, compassion, and privacy during difficult situations.

Information about scan options, testing services, and pricing was provided before appointments. Staff provided scan results at the end of consultations and explained any additional laboratory testing, follow-up arrangements or expected timescales. This helped ensure people understood their care and were able to make informed decisions.

Staff worked collaboratively to provide a positive experience for people using the service. People consistently described staff as supportive, reassuring and compassionate and said they felt listened to, informed and comfortable throughout their appointment.

The service cared about and promoted staff wellbeing and supported staff to deliver person-centred care.

Staff supported one another, particularly following emotionally challenging appointments. They described discussing concerns as a team, debriefing after difficult situations, and providing mutual support following the delivery of upsetting or unexpected news. The registered manager and sonographer had completed training in delivering difficult news, which helped staff feel confident in supporting people sensitively and appropriately.

The service ensured there were always two members of staff present during clinic sessions. This supported staff safety, provided opportunities for peer support and enabled staff to respond effectively to people's needs. Staff told us they worked closely together and regularly shared information to ensure people received consistent support and care.

Staff had opportunities to discuss their development and contribute to service improvement. The registered manager encouraged staff involvement in the development of the service and staff felt able to share suggestions and ideas. Staff were supported to maintain and develop the skills required for their roles. Sonographers undertook continuing professional development through specialist obstetric ultrasound education, study days, webinars, reflective practice and case-based learning. This helped staff maintain professional competence and remain up to date with current guidance and best practice. Staff also benefited from peer review processes and professional development activities that supported ongoing learning and maintenance of professional standards.

Staff undertaking venepuncture had completed appropriate phlebotomy training and competency assessments before collecting blood samples independently. Competency was supported through supervision, review, and ongoing professional development activities.

Staff had access to the resources and facilities required to work safely and effectively. They told us they were able to take appropriate breaks during the working day, and appointment scheduling included flexibility to support both staff wellbeing and the delivery of person-centred care.