- SERVICE PROVIDER
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
This is an organisation that runs the health and social care services we inspect
Assessment report published 11 June 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) provides long stay or rehabilitation mental health units for working age adults. The units provide assessment and treatment for adults who require rehabilitation in a mental health ward. This is usually following stabilisation of the person’s mental health in an acute mental health unit or following a decline in the person's mental health and/or behaviour that cannot be safely managed within the community. The main goal of the service is to support people with severe and complex mental health problems to gain or regain the confidence and skills in everyday activities to help them return to independent living. The rehabilitation units are situated on 3 sites: The Beacon provides 14 beds for men and women in the main unit, and 3 beds for men in a step-down house adjacent to the main building. There were 16 patients admitted at the time of the inspection. Gainsford House provides 12 beds for men and women. There were 12 patients admitted at the time of our inspection. Hampden House provides 12 beds for men and women. There were 12 patients admitted at the time of our inspection. All units accept patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA). This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the following regulated activities: • Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 • Treatment of disease, disorder or injury. We carried out an inspection of HPFT long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults on 25 and 26 February 2026. We inspected the service due to an aged rating and visited all 3 units. This service was last inspected in April and May 2015. At that inspection, the service was rated good overall, with one breach of the Health and Social Care Act Regulations (2008) for the safe management of medicines. At this inspection, we rated the service as outstanding. The service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations. Systems were now in place to safely prescribe, administer, store, and order medicines. Our rating improved. We rated the service as outstanding. We found no breaches of regulations.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 7 patients and 10 carers. Most of the feedback we received was positive. Patients told us they felt safe and the units had a nice atmosphere. One patient described it as a “home from home”. Patients told us staff went out of their way to help them and told us staff treated them with kindness. Everyone knew who their named nurse was and told us they had regular one-to-one sessions with them. Patients told us leave took place as planned and commented that there were a lot of activities available to them. Patients told us they felt their individual needs were met by the service, they were involved in their care and were able to give their views.However, one patient told us they did not have a discharge plan and told us they were not happy with the side effects of their medication.We informed the trust post inspection and immediate action was taken to address the patient’s concerns.
Carers told us staff treated their loved ones with care, respect and compassion. They said staff were patient and had actively supported patients to develop their skills and independence. One carer described the service as “life changing”. Carers told us they were invited to attend ward rounds and were asked to contribute their views in discussions. Carers felt staff understood patients well and listened to their views. All carers felt their loved ones were safe at the service. They had awareness of patients’ medication and side effects and commented that it was easy to get through to staff on the phone as needed. Some carers described positive involvement in discharge planning; however, some carers told us they felt the discharge process took a long time. Carers told us they generally had to initiate contact if they wanted an update outside of ward round.