Wellfield Also known as Wellfield Pines and Wellfield Acorn

Updated 12 November 2024

We carried out this on-site announced assessment on 30 July to 2 August 2024. We conducted this assessment due to ongoing enforcement action by CQC against the provider due to repeated breaches of regulations. Improvement was noted during this inspection, but the provider was found to not be completely compliant with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. In light of this, the provider agreed for further conditions to be added to their registration.

This was a targeted visit to assess breaches that were identified at the previous inspection. We assessed fourteen quality statements across the Safe and Well-led key questions in relation to the previously identified breaches. The overall rating of Requires Improvement, as published from previous inspections, still applies to Wellfield and has not changed. There were no children at the location during our assessment and no regulated activities being provided.

Some areas we identified had improved since the previous inspection on 17 and 18 October 2023, for example with communication and notification of significant incidents to stakeholders, and an improved training offer for staff.

However, there were improvements still to be made. Some of the policies and procedures were not reflective of current legislation.

We identified one breach of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment. At the time of our assessment, there was ineffective oversight from managers in relation to consistent and effective risk mitigation, which had resulted in significant harm to a child in their care. During our assessment, we were not fully assured that subsequent risk assessment and management processes were sufficient to prevent a similar incident happening in the future.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found during this assessment, as required by conditions currently applied to providers registration.

Updated 12 November 2024

There were no children resident at Wellfield at the time of the assessment and we were unable to speak to any children who had recently lived there.

Staff were encouraged to share their views on the service and ongoing plans for development. Stakeholders we spoke with during our assessment noted recent positive interactions with the service and that they would be willing to place children there again. Records demonstrated that a child recently resident at Wellfield had their views and wishes considered. Efforts had been made by staff to decrease restrictions on the child in their care to promote independence. However, at times, elements of this care had not met expected regulatory standards.

Feedback from stakeholders reflected that the ending of a child’s placement and transition into new services recently was not as transparent as expected. Moreover, a child had been harmed in an incident where there was an ineffective risk management plans in place.

At the time of this assessment the provider demonstrated a commitment to acting on feedback and continuing to improve the service.