Cygnet Nield House

Cygnet Nield House is an independent hospital that provides care for up to 30 women with mental health conditions.

This was our first inspection of this service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• The service did not always provide safe care. The risks presented by the ward environment were not always assessed and managed well. For example, not all parts of the ward were easily observable, and it was not always clear if information about risks was shared with temporary staff. The wards did not always have enough nurses and support workers.
• The documentation of care plans and risk assessments was not always recovery-oriented and easily accessible to patients, and all staff.
• The service did not always actively involve patients and families and carers in care decisions.
• The governance processes did not always ensure that ward procedures ran smoothly.

However

• The ward environments were clean. Staff minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• Staff carried out comprehensive assessments of patients and developed care plans in response to these. They provided treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice.
• The ward teams included or had access to the 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 treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients.
• Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.