The Angel Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We assessed 2 quality statements under the effective key question. Patients’ needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Staff worked in collaboration with other agencies to ensure patients’ needs were supported following their attendance at the SARC.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The provider had good systems in place to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety. Staff used holistic assessments to identify a range of risks including those associated with the patient’s general health, their domestic circumstances and presenting injuries. Staff continued to assess risks to patients throughout their time at the SARC which was evidenced in patient records we reviewed during the inspection. Records were accurate, legible andcontained body maps.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. Care and treatment were planned with patients and took account of their individual needs such as communication and religious preferences. Where patients were engaged with other services such as mental health or social services, staff liaised with these agencies with the patients’ consent. Staff had access to interpretation services including British Sign Language (BSL) should this be required. There was no hearing loop for patients with hearing aids which the provider planned to address following the inspection.

The provider monitored patients’ care and treatment effectively. They completed detailed forensic medical examination records that showed the procedures undertaken, any treatment provided (including any medicines issued) and relevant outcomes. They made onward referrals to GPs, safeguarding teams, or sexual health services, as required.

Staff routinely contacted patients at agreed intervals following their attendance at the SARC to monitor their well-being and ensure all referrals had been actioned. Assessment and treatment were documented on paper records which were stored securely in line with data protection standards. The provider also used an electronic system to log referrals and follow up contact with other agencies and the patient.

The judgement for Delivering evidence-based care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

Staff sought patient consent to care and treatment in line with national guidance and continued to review patient consent throughout the medical examination, which was documented within the patients record. Patients were asked to sign to give consent for the forensic medical examination, and for information sharing with the GP and any onward referrals. Records we reviewed during the inspection showed that staff gave patients treatment options and as much information as possible to allow them to make an informed choice about their care and treatment, including any risks associated with them. Records showed that patients understoodtheir rights and made their own choices.

The provider had a policy for the use of the Mental Capacity Act where it may be required, and staff completed mental capacity training.