Alternative Futures Group Limited

Updated 26 June 2019

Weaver Lodge provides mental health inpatient rehabilitation in a 20-bedded community rehabilitation unit for people aged 18 to 65 years. The service consists of 18 en-suite rooms and two rehabilitation flats. They admit both informal patients and patients who have been detained under the Mental Health Act (1983). Alternative Futures Group Limited, which is a registered charity, runs Weaver Lodge. They are a North West-based organisation who provide a range of inpatient and community services for individuals with mental health problems and/or a learning disability.

The registered manager had been in place for the last year.

Weaver Lodge is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983

• diagnostic and screening procedures

• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury.

The service model at Weaver Lodge had changed, the service was longer-term accommodation. The service now took patients on a 2-year programme, therefore in the last 12 months the service had discharged 12 patients.

Weaver Lodge is a community rehabilitation unit, Alternative Futures Group refer to their rehabilitation units as treatment and recovery centres.

Local clinical commissioners have block booked 14 beds at the service.

We have inspected Weaver Lodge six times since they registered with CQC in December 2010. At the last inspection in October 2016, we rated Weaver Lodge as good in all five of the key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

There was an unannounced Mental Health act Monitoring visit which took place on 20 August 2018. Issues found on this visit have been addressed by the provider.

Updated 26 June 2019

Updated 26 June 2019

We rated Weaver Lodge as requires improvement because:

• There was no dedicated female only lounge that was only accessed by female patients
• The service did not offer suitable psychological therapies as part of the service user treatment in line with national guidance on best practice

However:

• Patients received care in a safe and clean environment.
• Staff understood the needs of the patients and had the right skills to deliver safe care and treatment.
• Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse and report concerns.
• Each patient had a comprehensive risk assessment, which staff updated regularly.
• Staff followed good practice and national guidelines in relation to medicines management.
• All staff received training on, and understood the principles of, the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act.
• Staff compliance with supervision at the service was at 100%.
• Staff treated patients with kindness, dignity, respect and compassion and supported patients and carers to understand their condition and treatment
• Patients were involved in decisions regarding the service.
• Patients had access to volunteer opportunities, were encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests in the community.
• Patients were aware of how to make complaints about the service.
• Patients were positive about the food at the service and had been included in a recent tasting session.
• Leaders had the skills, experience and knowledge to manage the service.
• Staff felt respected and valued and were aware of the service’s visions and values.