- Independent mental health service
Forest Hospital
This care home is run by two companies: Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited and Scarborough Hall Limited. These two companies have a dual registration and are jointly responsible for the services at the home.
Assessment report published 24 June 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
We assessed Barchester Forest Hospital from 17 March 2026- 01 April 2026. This assessment included an on site inspection visit.
We assessed Forest Hospital as the rating was aged. Forest Hospital was last inspected in October 2019 and rated as good.
Since our last inspection visit the hospital closed the female ward. We visited the following ward as part of the assessment:
Maltby ward; a long stay ward for men with 15 beds (11 patients at the time of our site visit)
At this assessment we found breaches of regulations 12 (safe care and treatment) and 17 (good governance) in relation to medicines management; safety and cleanliness of the environment; care records and governance. We found the provider addressed breaches of regulation 12 identified at the previous inspection in relation to staff not consistently carrying out observations of patient’s physical health, medicines cupboards not being clean, staff not acting on increases in medicine fridge temperatures and staff not completing accurate observation records.
The service was in breach of regulations 12 (safe care and treatment) and 17 (good governance).
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
Mental Health Act
Staff were trained in the Mental Health Act, the Code of Practice and the guiding principles. The provider had relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance that staff had easy access to. Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy. Staff explained to patients their rights under the Mental Health Act in a way that they could understand. Staff requested an opinion from a second opinion appointed doctor when necessary. Staff stored copies of patients' detention papers and associated records correctly.
Mental Capacity Act
Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, in particular the five statutory principles. The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, including deprivation of liberty safeguards. Staff took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions. When patients lacked capacity, staff made decisions in their best interests, recognising the importance of the patient’s wishes, feelings, culture and history. The service had arrangements to monitor adherence to the Mental Capacity Act.
People's experience of this service
We were unable to speak directly with patients during our site visit as they were unable to speak with us. We spoke with 6 carers during our inspection and assessment of long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults. Carers told us that their loved ones were safe at the service. Carers were confident in safeguarding arrangements, risk management and staff responsiveness, particularly given individuals’ limited capacity to raise concerns themselves. Risks were discussed through ward rounds, reviews and DoLS processes, with carers kept informed of incidents and actions taken. Carers described the environment as clean, well maintained and safe. Carers reported staffing levels seemed adequate, and staff were viewed as knowledgeable, attentive and able to respond promptly to their loved ones needs. Carers told us they were involved in discussions about their loved one’s medicines and treatment.