The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded its rating for child and adolescent mental health wards run by Essex Partnership University NHS Trust (EPUT).
Inspectors recognised a number of improvements and increased the rating from requires improvement to good following visits to the St Aubyn Centre, Colchester and Poplar Unit in Rochford in March this year.
Amongst the improvements highlighted are staff working closely with families and carers to ensure they are fully involved in their loved one’s care, medicine management, and staff respecting young people’s privacy and dignity.
Ann Sheridan, Executive Nurse at EPUT, said: “We are delighted that the CQC has recognised the improvements made within our CAMHS services – this is testament to the relentless passion and dedication of our teams over the last few years and the support of our patients, their families and loved ones as we have continuously focused on improving the care we provide.
“Our journey doesn’t stop there however – we know there is more to do and look forward to building on the progress made to provide the best care for young people in need.”
The CQC raised the Trust’s ratings for safe, responsive, and well-led from requires improvement to good and the rating for being effective and caring has been re-rated as good.
EPUT runs three CAMHS wards – Larkwood and Longview at the St Aubyn Centre in Colchester and the Poplar Unit at Rochford Hospital. The wards provide assessment and treatment for young people aged 13 to 18 with mental health needs.
EPUT has invested in its CAMHS wards to make them safer and more therapeutic spaces, staffing levels have been increased and new roles created as part of a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, healthcare assistants, psychologists, therapists and education staff focused on providing person-centred and therapeutic care.
A Therapeutic Education Department at the St Aubyn Centre, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, also enables young people to continue their education during their care.
The full inspection report is available on the CQC website.
About EPUT:
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/