The Soke

We rated it as outstanding because:

• Staff had developed a truly holistic approach to assessing, planning and delivering care and treatment in collaboration with families and carers. The safe use of innovative and pioneering approaches to care were encouraged and new evidence-based techniques and technologies were used to support the delivery of high-quality care. Staff were actively engaged in clinical audits to evaluate the quality of the care they provided.
• The service provided care and treatment to children and young people, adults of working age, older adults, couples, adults and children with learning disabilities and autistic people.
• The service had access to a wide range of specialists required to meet the needs of the patients through the delivery of multiple therapeutic approaches. Managers ensured that these staff received training, supervision and appraisal. Staff were committed to working collaboratively and used the multidisciplinary team innovatively and efficiently to deliver joined up care, share knowledge and expertise which benefited patients.
• Staff understood the principles underpinning capacity, competence and consent as they apply to children and young people and managed and recorded decisions relating to these well.
• Patients were truly respected and valued as individuals and were empowered as partners in their care, practically and emotionally by an exceptional and distinctive service.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. Staff were highly motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and promoted patients’ dignity. Patients thought that staff went the extra mile and their care and support exceeded their expectations.
• The service was easy to access. People’s individual needs and preferences are central to the delivery of tailored services. There are innovative approaches to providing integrated person-centred pathways of care including for people and families with complex needs. The criteria for referral to the service did not exclude patients who would have benefitted from care.
• The service was well led, and the governance and culture ensured that that procedures relating to the work of the service ran smoothly and were used to drive and improve the delivery of high-quality person-centred care. There was compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels and comprehensive and successful leadership strategies were in place to ensure and sustain delivery and to develop the desired culture. Leaders had a deep understanding of the issues, challenges and priorities in their service.
• The service provided safe care. Clinical premises where patients were seen were safe and clean. The number of patients on individual members of staff was not too high to prevent staff from giving each patient the time they needed. Staff assessed and managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.