- Independent mental health service
Cygnet Elms
Assessment report published 30 September 2026
Contents
Ratings - Wards for people with learning disabilities or autism
Our view of the service
Cygnet Elms is a high dependency complex care service for 10 women with learning disabilities and/or autism who experience emotional distress and mental health needs. Some people using the service are detained under the Mental Health Act. The provider is Cygnet Learning Disabilities Midlands Limited.
Cygnet Elms is registered to carry out the following regulated activities:
- Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
- Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
Cygnet Elms was registered with CQC in May 2012 to deliver the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
We assessed Cygnet Elms from 23 June 2026 to 24 June 2026. This was an unannounced assessment, which meant the provider was not informed in advance that an inspection would be taking place. At this assessment we assessed 1 assessment service group, Wards for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, where we assessed 33 quality statements.
We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
Right Support - People's care plans, positive behavioural support plans and risk assessments were clear and detailed to guide staff on appropriate care and to help them to fully understand people’s distress. People were safeguarded from abuse. There were enough suitably skilled staff to support people. Staff had received appropriate training to interact with people.
Right Care - People received person-centred care that promoted their dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people to access the community and helped them to develop their skills. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs. The service met best practice including ensuring people could access appropriate assessments such as sensory and communication assessments and doctors regularly reviewed the use of anti-psychotic medicines to ensure people needed to have them.
Right Culture -Governance arrangements were effective and leaders understood and protected against closed cultures developing. Quality audits were in place; which were relevant and specific to the needs of people.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 5 patients and 2 of their relatives. Feedback was positive about the quality of care and treatment they received. Patients expressed feeling safe, supported and well cared for by staff. Staff were attentive to people’s needs and supported them in a respectful and dignified way, ensuring they felt listened to, involved and valued throughout their care and treatment journey.
Patients and their relatives told us staff were always visible, available and responsive to their needs by offering support, listening effectively and responding without delay to meet the needs of the people they cared for. Relatives told us staff communicated well with them and kept them updated about their loved ones’ progress and regularly updated them with any care and treatment information.
Stakeholder feedback was consistently positive, describing the service as person-centred, with people receiving safe, supportive care that promoted independence and positive outcomes for patients. Feedback from the provider’s expert by experience was also positive, with patients describing staff as caring and supportive.
During our assessment, we observed positive interactions between staff and patients, with patients appearing comfortable, settled and happy.
Patients were supported to maintain and improve their quality of life, through personalised care, meaningful activities, involvement in decisions about their support, and opportunities to develop independence and skills for their future goals.