Buckshaw Hospital

This was the first inspection of this service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and drink, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Leaders monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers. Feedback from patients was positive.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Experienced and compassionate leaders ran services effectively using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care and took pride in their work. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However

• Not all staff had received an appraisal in the last 12 months.
• Records of employment checks were disorganised. At the time of our inspection the service was not able to demonstrate full compliance with the requirements of Schedule 3 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
• Records of temperature checks for medications were not always completed.
• Departmental meetings were not always completed regularly and did not always follow the standing agenda.