• Mental Health
  • NHS mental health service

Archived: Chelmer and Stort Mental Health Wards

Derwent Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Hamstel Road, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1QX (01279) 827283

Provided and run by:
North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Important: This service is now managed by a different provider - see new profile

All Inspections

Other CQC inspections of services

Community & mental health inspection reports for Chelmer and Stort Mental Health Wards can be found at North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Each report covers findings for one service across multiple locations

20 November 2014

During a routine inspection

We last inspected this service on 04 February 2014 and we identified areas where the trust needed to take action. The trust sent us a report detailing the actions they had taken. We carried out this inspection to check on the actions taken.We found that overall improvements had been made by the hospital.

During this inspection we spoke to approximately six people and 16 staff in detail. We reviewed 12 assessment and treatment records and trust wide policies and procedures. We observed a community meeting of the people using the service.

The service was safe. Risk assessments and management plans were available for people and the environment to keep them and others safe. People we spoke with told us they felt safe.

The service was effective. We noted that clear assessment and care plans were in place for each person using the service to ensure people's needs were being effectively met. We found staff had received relevant training. However we found that further some improvements were needed for recording individual documenting capacity assessments on Chelmer ward. This was brought to attention of senior trust staff.

The service was caring. Most people gave us positive feedback about staff and the care given.

The service was responsive. People and staff were encouraged to give feedback on the quality of the service in various ways such as meetings and surveys and we saw evidence of actions taken by the trust following this feedback.

The service was well led. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of service provision.

4 February 2014

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with told us that they were generally happy with the service. We saw that overall people experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights.

Before people received any care or treatment we found that they had not always been asked for their consent. Where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider had not in all cases acted in accordance with legal requirements.

We were told that people were actively encouraged to participate in their individual treatment programme and that they accessed specialist therapies and other support from staff. We saw people's needs were assessed, however care and treatment was not always planned and delivered in line with people's individual care plans.

None of the people we spoke with expressed any concerns about their safety. We saw staff dealt with challenging situations calmly and effectively. The provider ensured that people who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse.

Staff were trained and supported sufficiently by way of appraisals and supervisions. Staff reported that there were good opportunities for training. This demonstrated to us that people were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of service that people received.

28 November 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke with a total of six people who were receiving assessment and treatment in both wards at this location. They reported that staff had involved them wherever possible in the care and treatment that they were receiving and listened to them.

People with whom we spoke confirmed that they were generally satisfied with the support and treatment provided by staff. Some people said that the system for accessing Section 17 leave under the 1983 Mental Health Act was quite good. People also felt able to approach staff if they had any concerns and were confident that these would be addressed wherever possible.

People with whom we spoke confirmed that they felt safe on their respective ward. They also stated that if they felt concerned about anything they could approach staff who were happy to help as much as possible.