Ash Green Learning Disability Centre HQ

Detailed findings from this inspection Our inspection team 7 Background to Ash Green Hospital 7 Why we carried out this inspection 7 How we carried out this inspection 8

Summary of findings Overall summary Ash Green Hospital provides community inpatient and Care and treatment was evidence based and resulted in outpatient services for people with learning disabilities. good outcomes for patients. We saw effective There are two inpatient wards, Hillside with eight beds collaboration and communication among members of and Valley View with five beds. the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support the planning and delivery of patient-centred care. Staff were supported Hillside ward provides assessment and treatment for with clinical supervision, appraisal, and relevant training. people with learning disabilities who may have complex However, staff uptake of clinical supervision was not mental health issues and / or behaviour that challenges monitored effectively services. Patients may be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Patients received care and treatment to meet their needs. Patients and their relatives told us their health and Valley View ward provides short-term care for people with wellbeing had improved since using the services at Ash learning disabilities. This is usually planned as respite for Green Hospital. The service was accessible and provision families and carers, or can be provided urgently at short was made for the specific needs of individual patients. notice when needed. However, the care plans were in a format that was not The patients and relatives we spoke with were mostly easy for some people with learning disabilities to positive about the care provided at Ash Green Hospital understand. and we saw they were involved in making decisions Planning for the patient leaving hospital started on the about care. Patients were treated with kindness and day of admission and discussions involved the patient, respect and their privacy and dignity were upheld. their families, and support staff from other providers Patients at Ash Green Hospital were protected from where appropriate. abuse and avoidable harm by the systems, processes and Most staff we spoke with were aware of the Trust’s vision practices in place. Staff had received training in and values. Staff told us they enjoyed working at Ash safeguarding vulnerable adults and were confident about Green Hospital. They felt there was good team working reporting their concerns. Risks for individual patients and and they were supported by their managers. in the ward environments were identified, assessed and effectively managed.

Summary of findings The five questions we ask and what we found at this location We always ask the following five questions of services. Are services safe? Patients at Ash Green Hospital were protected from abuse and avoidable harm by the systems, processes and practices in place. Staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and were confident about reporting their concerns. Risks for individual patients and for the ward environments were identified, assessed and effectively managed.

Are services effective? Care and treatment provided at Ash Green Hospital was evidenced based and resulted in good outcomes for patients. We saw effective collaboration and communication amongst members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support the planning and delivery of patient-centred care. Staff were supported with clinical supervision, appraisal, and relevant training. However, However, staff uptake of clinical supervision was not monitored effectively.

Are services caring? The patients and relatives we spoke with were mostly positive about the care provided at Ash Green Hospital and we saw they were involved in making decisions about care. Patients were treated with kindness and respect and their privacy and dignity were upheld. Staff were working enthusiastically towards a local authority dignity in care award.

Are services responsive to people’s needs? Patients received care and treatment to meet their needs. Patients and their relatives told us their health and wellbeing had improved since using the services at Ash Green Hospital. The service was accessible and provision was made for the specific needs of individual patients. However, the care plans were in a format that was not easy for some people with learning disabilities to understand. Planning for the patient leaving hospital started on the day of admission and discussions involved the patient, their families, and support staff from other providers where appropriate.

Are services well-led? Most staff we spoke with were aware of the Trust’s vision and values. Staff told us they enjoyed working at Ash Green Hospital. They felt there was good team working and they were well supported by their managers.

Summary of findings What we found about each of the core services provided from this location Community inpatient services Ash Green Hospital provides community inpatient and outpatient services for people with learning disabilities. There are two inpatient wards, Hillside and Valley View. Hillside ward has eight beds and Valley View ward has five beds. Hillside Ward provides assessment and treatment for people with learning disabilities who may have complex mental health issues and / or behaviour that challenges services. Patients may be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Valley View ward provides short term care for people with learning disabilities. This is usually planned as respite for families and carers, or can be provided urgently at short notice when needed. Patients at Ash Green Hospital were protected from abuse and avoidable harm by the systems, processes and practices in place. Staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adu