Baldock Manor

Updated 26 July 2023

Baldock Manor is an independent hospital provided by Nouvita Limited to deliver acute wards for people over the age of 55 and a psychiatric intensive care unit.

Baldock Manor is registered 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.

The service had a registered manager in post since July 2022.

The service has 4 wards:

• Radley ward is an 8 bed psychiatric intensive care unit for women detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Oakley ward is a 10 bed acute ward for women over the age of 55
• Mulberry ward is a 6 bed acute ward for women over the age of 55
• Burberry ward is a 14 bed acute ward for men over the age of 55

The service was last inspected in November 2019 and was issued requirement notices under regulations 9, 12, 13, 17; warning notices under regulations 9, 12, 13, 15, 17 and 18; and an urgent notice of decision was imposed under regulation 18.

At this inspection we found that the provider had met the requirements issued following the previous inspection.

What people who use the service say

We spoke with 12 patients who had mixed views of the service. Patients on Oakley and Burberry wards were happy with their treatment and spoke positively about staff.

Patients on Radley ward told us that permanent staff were helpful but that agency staff did not take an interest or engage well with them. Patients did not feel there were enough staff due to the number of observations required.

Updated 26 July 2023

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• Staff on Radley ward undertook long periods of enhanced observations without breaks. This does not adhere to guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Staff completing extended periods of enhanced observations may be less likely to maintain the levels of concentration required to maintain patient safety and therapeutic engagement.
• Radley ward had some blanket restrictions in place, including access to fresh air and water without staff assistance.
• Staff on Radley ward described using incorrect restraint techniques.
• Patients on Radley ward reported staff not being interested or helpful, particularly agency staff. We observed staff arguing in front of patients and discussing patients in front of them.
• Patients told us the food was not of a good standard.
• Staff did not provide patients with a copy of their care plan.

However:

• Staffing levels had significantly improved since the last inspection and managers used bank staff wherever possible to fill vacant shifts.
• Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
• The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards. Managers ensured that these staff received training, supervision and appraisal. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
• Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• The service was well led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.

Updated 26 July 2023