Dr J & Colleagues

Updated 8 September 2025

We completed an assessment of Dr J and Colleagues with an onsite visit on 8 April 2025 and offsite interviews on 30 April 2025 and 1-8 May 2025. We undertook the assessment in response to concerns we received relating to the service. We last assessed Dr J and Colleagues in May 2021 and rated it Good overall. At the time of the last inspection the service was known as NW Counselling Hub and was located at Unit 10, Allenby Business Park, Crofton Road, Lincoln, LN3 4NL. The provider is currently in the process of updating its details with CQC to its current location Cromwell House, off Tritton Road, Lincoln, LN6 7YT.

Since the last inspection the service has changed significantly and now focuses predominately on the assessment and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) for people over 18 years and young people between 16-18 years. Consultant psychiatrists at the service also have a small cohort of people with general mental health diagnosis, including, but not limited to, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Services are provided remotely (via video/telephone) or face-to-face at the providers clinic in Lincoln. The service accepts private referrals nationally, or NHS GPs under the NHS Right to Choose pathway or NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) with whom they hold a qualifying contract.

At this assessment we rated the service as Requires Improvement. We found 4 breaches of the legal regulations in relation to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, the need for consent, and governance.

The service did not consistently operate safeguarding systems and processes effectively to protect people from abuse. Staff did not always assess risks to people's health and safety or mitigate them where identified. We were not assured that care and treatment was always provided with the consent of the relevant person. Policies and procedures for obtaining consent to care and treatment did not always reflect current legislation and guidance, and staff did not always follow them. Governance systems and audits were not effective in identifying or addressing areas for improvement.

However, the service had an open culture where staff felt safe to raise concerns. There were enough staff to ensure peoples' safety and meet their needs. People were supported to give feedback on their care. We saw that complaints were fully investigated.

The service was in breach of Regulation 11: Need for consent; Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment; Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment and Regulation 17: Good governance. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

Updated 11 August 2025

We completed an assessment of Dr J and Colleagues with an onsite visit on 8 April 2025 and offsite interviews on 30 April 2025 and 1-8 May 2025. We undertook the assessment in response to concerns we received relating to the service. We last assessed Dr J and Colleagues in May 2021 and rated it Good overall. At the time of the last inspection the service was known as NW Counselling Hub and was located at Unit 10, Allenby Business Park, Crofton Road, Lincoln, LN3 4NL. The provider is currently in the process of updating its details with CQC to its current location Cromwell House, off Tritton Road, Lincoln, LN6 7YT.

Since the last inspection the service has changed significantly and now focuses predominately on the assessment and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) for people over 18 years and young people between 16-18 years. Consultant psychiatrists at the service also have a small cohort of people with general mental health diagnosis, including, but not limited to, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Services are provided remotely (via video/telephone) or face-to-face at the providers clinic in Lincoln. The service accepts private referrals nationally, or NHS GPs under the NHS Right to Choose pathway or NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) with whom they hold a qualifying contract.

At this assessment we rated the service as Requires Improvement. We found 4 breaches of the legal regulations in relation to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, the need for consent, and governance.

The service did not consistently operate safeguarding systems and processes effectively to protect people from abuse. Staff did not always assess risks to people's health and safety or mitigate them where identified. We were not assured that care and treatment was always provided with the consent of the relevant person. Policies and procedures for obtaining consent to care and treatment did not always reflect current legislation and guidance, and staff did not always follow them. Governance systems and audits were not effective in identifying or addressing areas for improvement.

However, the service had an open culture where staff felt safe to raise concerns. There were enough staff to ensure peoples' safety and meet their needs. People were supported to give feedback on their care. We saw that complaints were fully investigated.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.