- SERVICE PROVIDER
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
This is an organisation that runs the health and social care services we inspect
Assessment report published 1 July 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provide a long stay or rehabilitation ward for working age adults. The ward is located in Suffolk and is a 10 bed unit for 8 male and 2 female patients.
The hospital is registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry out the following regulated activities:
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
• Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
The Care Quality Commission last inspected this location in February 2023. At that inspection, the service was not rated due to insufficient evidence. We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act regulations (2008) related to mandatory training. (Regulation 18(1)). At this inspection, the trust was still in breach of this regulation.
We inspected the service on 3rd March 2026. At the time of the inspection there were 5 patients admitted to the ward.
At this inspection we found that the service is performing well and is meeting our expectations. We rated the service as Good.
Our View of the Service
We carried out an inspection on the 3rd March 2026 due to an aged rating.
The service provided safe care, the environment was pleasant, safe and clean. The ward had enough staff and had access to specialists to meet the needs of patients. Staff minimised the use of restrictive practices and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding. Staff completed thorough risk assessments of the ward and individualised risk assessments with patients. Managers ensured staff received training, supervision and appraisal and had developed strategies to boost staff wellbeing and recognise staff achievements. Feedback from patients and carers about the service was positive. Patients told us they felt safe, that staff were caring and treated them with kindness and respect.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance
Mental Health Act
The service admitted patients under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Staff received and kept up to date with training on the Mental Health Act. Training was mandatory, and the compliance rate for staff was 96%.
Staff had access to support and advice on implementing the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice.
A mental health legislation compliance officer visited the ward monthly to provide guidance and undertake auditing of patient files to ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act. Staff could contact this team should they require support or guidance in this area.
Staff recorded regular explanations of patients’ rights, under the Mental Health Act. Patients were given the choice of how often they wished to be reminded of their rights, and this was clearly recorded in an easy to access folder.
Staff did not always record feedback on Section 17 (S.17) leave when it was taken (Section 17 leave is planned, temporary leave from a hospital for patients detained under the Mental Health Act). An audit highlighted this as being at 64% compliance in January 2026. However, the trust took a proactive approach, and a S.17 project had been undertaken which had resulted in a revised recording process. The results of this had not had time to embed.
Mental Capacity Act
Staff received and kept up to date with training in the Mental Capacity Act and had a good understanding of the 5 principles. Training on the Mental Capacity Act was mandatory for staff. At the time of inspection, the compliance rate was 96%.
Staff completed an assessment of each patients’ capacity to consent to admission and treatment on admission. We looked at 2 care plans, and both showed a record of an assessment taking place.
People's experience of this service
Peoples experience
We spoke with 4 patients during the inspection; all told us they felt safe on the ward. We spent time observing daily life and routines to help us to understand their experiences. Staff were caring, treated people with respect and ensured people were offered choices. This included choices in relation to food and drinks, activities and where people chose to spend their time.
Patients spoke positively about the environment and their rooms; 1 patient told us the ward was much calmer than another service they had been at. Patients described staff as kind, 1 patient told us the staff understood their illness and worked well with them.
A family member told us staff were great, that their family member had been looked after and they were lovely to the patient. They told us the environment was always clean and tidy, and they believed their family member was safe.