Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear's child mental health wards face scrutiny and improvement calls
The spotlight is on the mental health care of young people in the North East and Cumbria regions, as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued a stark warning. The CQC's recent inspection revealed that the care provided by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust's child and adolescent mental health wards falls short of regulatory standards.
The report highlights a critical issue: the wards at Acklam Road Hospital in Middlesbrough and Ferndene in Prudhoe are not consistently conducting comprehensive ligature risk assessments, and the use of face-down restraint is alarmingly high. However, it's important to note that the staff's treatment of patients is described as kind and compassionate.
Sarah Glacken, the executive director of nursing and therapies, acknowledges the challenges, stating, 'We are working diligently to address these concerns and improve our services.'
The inspection, conducted from August 18 to 21, aimed to address the concerns raised about the quality of care. The CQC identified multiple areas of non-compliance, including safe care and treatment, safeguarding against abuse and improper treatment, person-centered care, staffing, and effective management.
One of the key findings is the excessive use of mechanical restraint, which is not in line with national guidelines and poses a potential risk to patients. The CQC also noted that staff members lacked the necessary training to provide adequate support and did not consistently raise safeguarding concerns with relevant organizations, leaving patients vulnerable.
In response, the trust is taking proactive measures. They are implementing a new ligature assessment tool to identify high-risk areas and have integrated risk management into their mandatory staff training program. Additionally, they introduced mandatory training on supporting autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities last year.
Despite the challenges, Glacken emphasizes the positive aspects, stating, 'The report highlights several strengths, and young people expressed satisfaction with the staff's warmth, empathy, and respect.'
The trust is committed to improvement, as Glacken confirms, 'We acknowledge the findings and are dedicated to enhancing our services. Providing safe and high-quality care is our utmost priority.' They are also reviewing and updating their restraint policy to clarify the exceptional circumstances under which restraint can be employed.
This situation underscores the importance of continuous improvement in mental health care, especially for young people. It invites further discussion on how to best support vulnerable individuals and ensure their well-being.
