Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust

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• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

This means we looked for evidence that the service met young people’s needs.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

• Young people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices.
• A transition team worked to support young people when leaving the ward.
• The trust sought and adapted to feedback from young people and their families.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Staff and young people reviewed care plans weekly. Staff sought the views and updates provided by young people and their families. Young people told us they were involved in planning their care. Copies of care plans were kept in young people’s rooms. Young people helped to create the folder design and content, so they and staff could better understand the content.

Young people were invited to attend the ward round. The ward round included standing agenda items for feedback from parents, carers and young people. Young people also completed pre‑ward round feedback forms, giving them the opportunity to share their views.

Young people took part in weekly community meetings and staff supported them to develop their interests. For example, young people raised funds for activities such as trampolining, planning and cooking themed meals and collecting natural materials to make bird boxes.

Young people could choose to personalise their bedrooms and bedroom door. For example, one young person had added a suggestion to their door to help support staff to start conversations with them. Personal items and bedding could also be brought in to make rooms more individualised.

Staff and young people’s film preferences were displayed which helped them to get to know each other. The trust did not have facilities available for parents who lived further away to visit overnight.

Staff ensured that young people had access to education. There was a school on the floor below the ward.

Staff supported young people to maintain contact with their families and carers.

A transitions team worked with young people and other agencies, from the point of admission until after leaving the ward.

Staff explained information to young people in a way they could understand.

Staff ensured that young people could obtain information on treatments, local services, legal rights, how to complain, access to advocates, activities and educational timetables.

However, although we saw the ward noticeboard reminding young people of their legal rights, there was not a sign on the ward telling informal young people of their right to leave and what they should do if they wished to leave. Staff told us this notice had been recently removed by a young person but it had not been replaced.

Managers regularly asked young people and families to give feedback, share ideas or complain about care, support and treatment. They could do this in a way that met most of their needs. We viewed parent and family feedback that was mainly positive.

The trust also employed a peer support worker who had previous experience of admission to the ward. They met with young people and gathered their feedback.

Families received regular updates and were able to join a monthly parent group. One example of a recent change made in response to feedback was increased time for young people to spend at home.

However, managers told us they had experienced challenges maintaining consistent engagement with the parent group when young people moved in and out of the ward. As young people were discharged, new parents often had different needs. Managers were reviewing how best to improve family involvement and feedback.

Staff ensured the needs of young people or visitors with mobility issues were met. Bedroom and communal areas were on the same floor. There was safe access to a lift. We saw that staff planned for young people’s discharge, including good liaison with clinicians and care coordinators. There was a transitions team to assist and ensure continuity of care.

Staff records showed 98% had completed training in equality and diversity. We saw that staff had asked young people about their individual needs and these were documented in their care plans.

Young people and their families told us they felt involved in their care and treatment.

Young people attended the on-site school.

A transition team helped young people and their families after discharge.