Arden Medical Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We looked for evidence that the service’s leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care and promoted an open and fair culture. This was a focused assessment, which meant we did not assess all quality statements. Our rating is determined from the findings of both this assessment and our previous assessment. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The practice had a clear vision and values that focused on providing inclusive, person-centred care and meeting the needs of its local population. Staff understood these values and described a culture that promoted openness, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Leaders created a supportive working environment where staff felt valued, able to raise concerns and encouraged to contribute to service development. Staff told us they had opportunities to share ideas, discuss learning and participate in decisions about how services were delivered.

The practice demonstrated a commitment to improving outcomes and reducing inequalities. Quality improvement activity was embedded within the service, including the use of data to identify patients at risk of poorer outcomes and proactively providing support. For example, the practice had developed work to improve access and support for autistic patients, helping to reduce barriers and promote more personalised care.

Leaders were committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and staff demonstrated an understanding of the needs of different population groups. Reasonable adjustments were made to improve access for people who may be vulnerable or experience barriers to care.

Overall, the practice had a positive culture, with leaders promoting learning, improvement and patient-centred care. This contributed to improved access, a more preventative approach to care and better outcomes for patients.

We did not look at Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Freedom to speak up during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

The service had clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability in place to support effective governance. These arrangements were used to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. Leaders had oversight of risk, performance and outcomes and used this information to make informed decisions and drive improvements. Information was shared securely and appropriately with partner organisations where required.

The service demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement. As a research-ready practice, they had taken part in a study focused on environmentally friendly healthcare practices. Following this, the service made practical changes, including introducing inhaler and medication pack recycling schemes and reviewing how consumables were ordered to reduce environmental impact.

Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and how these contributed to the running of the service. Leaders supported staff through regular appraisals and performance reviews and maintained an open and approachable management style. Staff reported they felt supported in their roles.

Governance processes were established and appropriate for the service. Outcomes and actions were documented, creating evidence of quality improvement activity. Policies and procedures were accessible to staff, up to date and reflective of current guidance. Regular team meetings were held where risks, performance and service developments were discussed. Actions arising from these meetings were recorded and shared with staff to support accountability and improvement.

The service had effective systems in place to support information governance. Staff understood the importance of confidentiality and data security and followed processes to ensure this was maintained, including verifying people’s identity during remote consultations. The provider submitted data and notifications to external agencies as required.

Overall, the service had effective governance and management systems in place, which supported the delivery of safe, sustainable and good quality care.

We did not look at Partnerships and communities during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Learning, improvement and innovation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.