- SERVICE PROVIDER
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
This is an organisation that runs the health and social care services we inspect
Assessment report published 16 October 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is registered with the Care Quality Commission to deliver the following regulated activities:
Personal Care
Nursing care
Family planning
Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury
Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
Surgical procedures
Diagnostic and Screening procedures
We carried out an unannounced inspection at the long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust on the 16 and 17 June 2026. The trust has one ward based at Wesham Rehabilitation Centre. Wehsam Rehabilitation Unit is a 26 bed unit, for male patients requiring rehabilitation for their mental health needs. It is a purpose-built unit based in its own grounds in the town of Wehsam, Lancashire. The unit had originally been intended for both male and female patients. However, very soon after opening the trust found there was very little demand for female mental health rehabilitation beds and consequently changed their registration to male only. Wesham Rehabilitation Centre never admitted any female patients and the service remains a male only unit.
The inspection was unannounced and was planned as Wesham rehabilitation unit has not been inspected since it opened in 2022. At this inspection we found one breach of regulation under Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment. This was in relation to the use of blanket restrictions that were not individually risk assessed, for example locked doors and the counting of knives in and out. Due to the nature of the service being rehabilitation, to enable patients to reintegrate back into society, with independence, we would expect these restrictions to be used on an individually risk assessed basis for those that required this level of restriction only. The service was rated good overall, with requires improvement in the safe domain.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
The trust had relevant up to date policies relating to the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act and staff could access advice on the implementation of the Mental Health Act. Staff received training in the Mental Capacity Act that was within the trusts’ safeguarding training at levels 1, 2 and 3. Training compliance levels were at 95% for the Mental Health Act and 100% for safeguarding level 1, 93% for level 2 and 90% for level 3.
Staff assessed patients capacity on a decision specific basis with regard to significant decisions and recorded best interests’ decisions where this was required.
Staff ensured patients could take Section 17 leave (permission to leave hospital) and explained their rights in a way they could understand and repeated this where necessary. Patients had access to advocacy.
People's experience of this service
During our on site visit, we spoke with 10 patients and 5 carers.
All patients we spoke with gave positive feedback about both the ward and the staff that worked there, describing them as helpful, supportive and welcoming. They all noted the ward had a positive environment, with many mentioning the opportunities for involvement in meaningful activities. Patients told us about opportunities for access to work and education as well as social engagement.
Patients told us they had positive interactions with their multi-disciplinary team, including their Consultant Psychiatrist and the GP. Patients reported they felt in control of their own goal setting and discharge plans and that they were listened to and given time to discuss this in meetings relating to their care.
All patients we spoke with told us they had access to an advocate who visited the ward on a regular basis.
Patients compared Wesham Rehabilitation Unit to previous placements and reflected on this positively, telling us the environment felt less restrictive. They told us they felt safe, respected and supported by all the team who worked at the hospital.
Carers we spoke with were unanimously positive about the care their loved ones received. They told us they were kept not only informed, but involved in their loved one’s care, including being invited to important meetings and their views being listened to and respected, especially when concerns were raised. They told us the staff were caring and that the ward environment was therapeutic and supported their loved one’s recovery.
Overall, they expressed satisfaction in terms of how staff supported patients and brought carers along on the recovery journey.