- Independent mental health service
Baldock Manor
Report from 2 January 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings - Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
Our view of the service
Baldock Manor is an independent hospital provided by Nouvita Limited to deliver acute mental health care for people over the age of 55 and psychiatric intensive care units. Baldock Manor is registered to provide the following regulated activities: Assessment or treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Treatment of disease, disorder or injury Baldock Manor has 4 wards: Radley and Oakley wards are 8 bed psychiatric intensive care units for women of working age detained under the Mental Health Act. Mulberry ward is a 10 bed acute ward for men over the age of 55. Burberry ward is a 14 bed acute ward for women over the age of 55. The service was last inspected in May 2023 and was issued requirement notices under regulation 10 (dignity and respect ) and regulation 12 (safe) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We found that: Staff did not always treat patients with dignity and respect on Radley ward or behave professionally. The service did not ensure that staff followed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines when undertaking enhanced patient observations. Staff were not all aware of correct restraint techniques, including the use of pods and cushions. At this assessment we found that the provider had met some of the requirements issued following the previous inspection. Issues remained with: The service did not ensure staff were carrying-out enhanced observations in-line with their policy. We carried out our on-site inspection on 3 and 4 July 2024 and we assessed 13 quality statements across safe and caring key questions. Staff did not always complete observations as prescribed. Ligature risk assessments were not accurate, there was evidence of security breaches and medication was not always dispensed in line with policy. However, staff were using the correct restraint techniques and staff were able to take regular breaks while on observation.
People's experience of this service
During our assessment at Baldock Manor we spoke with 8 patients across Radley, Burberry and Oakley wards. Out of the 8 patients we spoke with, 4 patients told us they felt safe at the service and that staff respected their privacy. Three patients told us they felt unsafe during their time at Baldock Manor. One patient told us they had received their care plan but it was too much information to read. Out of the 8 patients we spoke with, 3 patients told us that they weren’t explained their rights under the mental health act regularly. During the assessment we attended 2 service user forums. Patients told us that they felt safe and cared for by staff. Some patients raised concerns about the washing machine and dishwasher not working, however concerns were followed up with actions to address the issues. One patient raised that staff had been delayed actioning their requests, however highlighted that they felt cared for by staff. Patients told us there were lots of activities available to them including tai chi, yoga, flower arranging, art, gong therapy and regular newspapers were bought. One patient told us they had been purchased a guitar and they were encouraged by staff to play. We spoke with 4 family members or carers of patients. All the carers we spoke with felt that staff at Baldock Manor were friendly and the environment was clean. Some family members we spoke with told us that they felt their loved one was safe. One carer told us their loved one felt supported at Baldock Manor and did not want to leave. However, one family member told us that their loved one did not feel safe on admission due to another patient’s behaviour. Another relative told us there could have been more information available on admission for families and that a request had to be made to get an invite to ward meetings.