Castle House

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 October 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 service and these are set out in Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. At Castle House those occupational health related services provided to customers under arrangements made by their employer or a government department are exempt by law from CQC regulation. Therefore they did not fall into the scope of our inspection.

The Managing Director is 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.

As part of our inspection we asked for CQC comment cards to be completed by clients prior to our inspection. We received six comment cards which were all positive about the service that had been provided.

Our key findings were:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• The clinic had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to customer safety.

• Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.

• Information about services and how to complain was available.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The clinic proactively sought feedback from staff and customers, which it acted upon.

Notable practice

• The service had a Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement acknowledging its responsibilities. This was part of their induction process and as such, covered when new staff went through the service’s Policies and Procedures on their first day.

• All Health Matters had signed the Mindful Employer Charter in 2011. It was founded as a voluntary initiative in 2004 as a way of raising awareness of mental health problems among the working population. All employers can be Mindful, and signatories to the Charter pledge to be so in an open and compassionate way. The organisation offered support and signposting to employers and employees facing the challenges of mental illness.
• The provider used the concept of ELEMENTS which was born in response to requests from occupational health clients for an innovative, engaging initiative to promote health and wellbeing to employees. Based on the four ELEMENTS of the Earth.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice