The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Ward 35 Intermediate Care Unit

Aintree University Hospital, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool, Merseyside, L9 7AL (0151) 295 3000

Provided and run by:
Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust

Important: This service was previously managed by a different provider - see old profile
Important: This service is now managed by a different provider - see new profile

All Inspections

Other CQC inspections of services

Community & mental health inspection reports for Ward 35 Intermediate Care Unit can be found at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust. Each report covers findings for one service across multiple locations
Read inspection report

28 November and 5 December 2013

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with a number of patients during this inspection. Most of them and their relatives spoke positively about the care they had received.

We carried out this inspection in response to concerns raised. We found improvements were required in care and welfare, medicines, staffing, supporting staff and quality assurance processes.

During our inspection we found that patients had been admitted with needs more complex than was set out in the ward admission criteria. This had impacted on staffing levels and the ability of staff to do their job.

Patients were not fully protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider did not have appropriate arrangements in place to safely manage them.

Serious concerns were raised by staff reporting a culture where staff were fearful to report incidents. They reported a fear they may be treated unfairly should they report incidents or serious concerns. Staff told us that they had not had access to recent performance reviews and appropriate supervision for clinical staff. Staff told us that they felt unsupported by the Trust.

The trust had systems and processes in place for governance and risk management. However, the implementation and quality of these was variable.

31 May 2013

During a routine inspection

People told us they had been treated with respect and had been involved in planning their care and treatment. We saw there was a variety of information available to people including how to complain and how to access advocacy services. However we found that information such as the purpose of the unit, the staff team and facilities, was not available in written or any other format which meant people did not have direct access to important information they may have needed during their stay.

Staff had access to a range of information about people's needs and how they were to be met. People's care and treatment had been properly monitored and recorded. They told us they were aware of their rehabilitation plans, discharge plans and arrangements for follow up care and support on their return home. Staff were confident about dealing with emergencies that may arise.

People told us they had been provided with a good choice of nutritious food and drink and that they had had all the help and support they had needed with their diet.

Equipment used by people was readily available and properly maintained and stored. People told us they had all the equipment they needed to help them with their comfort, mobility and independence and we saw staff using equipment appropriately.

People told us the staff were good at their job and they had met all their needs. We found that staff had completed training relevant to their roles and had been well supported by their manager/s.