7 February 2025
This includes our crisis teams, section 136 suites and acute liaison services The inspection took place in June 2024.
The CQC has rated our mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety ‘good’. This means we have retained our previous ‘good’ rating and that our service is performing well and meeting CQC expectations.
This is against a national backdrop of increased demand for services and recruitment challenges across the health and care sector. The inspection also took place during a period of change for the service, and for our teams, as we moved over to NHS 111.
Highlights from the report
People using the service said they felt safe and that staff were kind, compassionate and respectful. Patients said they had appropriate risk assessments in place which were regularly updated and that they, and their carers, had been involved in creating them.
The report highlights that staff shared a vision and culture, worked with capable and compassionate leaders and there were sound structures in place for staff to speak up.
The report also said:
- People were treated as individuals and offered independence, choice and control.
- There was evidence of a good learning culture, and people using the services told the CQC that they felt safe.
- People were safeguarded by the staff caring for them.
- People had their needs assessed, and most people said they were involved in the planning of their care and that their care was regularly reviewed.
- The CQC saw staff supporting people with their mental health needs and the physical health monitoring.
- People received evidenced based care and treatment and there were regular multidisciplinary meetings where learning could be shared and staff at all levels attended various meetings.
- People are included in their care and treatment choices with carers being involved where appropriate.
- People’s preferences were considered when deciding on appropriate treatment options.
- Carers included at assessment stage and throughout.
- There was a strong quality improvement culture, and leaders were encouraged to develop themselves and the services.
- Staff told the CQC that the recent move to the 111 service was having a positive impact.
There were also areas for improvement including elements of training, management of medicines, workforce wellbeing and call waiting times.
The CQC report acknowledged that our Trust was aware of the risks in the service and had robust plans in place to make improvements, particularly to issues around staffing and acuity. We’ve already made significant progress since the inspection took place last June, which they’ve acknowledged. A full copy of the report is available on the CQC website.
