Care Quality Commission publishes two reports

Reports into AWP community and inpatient services have been published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following routine inspections last month.

Callington Road inpatient services were given a clean bill of health, with improvements made since the CQC last inspected meaning that the hospital now meets the essential standards inspected. 

But having visited 11 community teams in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, B&NES, Swindon and North Wiltshire, inspectors concluded that four of the five essential standards inspected were not being met and this could have a 'moderate' impact on people using the service.

At Callington Road, the inspectors looked at the essential standards covering consent to care and treatment, care and welfare of people who use services, safeguarding, supporting workers and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. During their visit, inspectors spoke with staff, service users and relatives, receiving many positive comments. Inspectors concluded that "patients were cared for and treated by staff who had an understanding about the different complex mental health needs and the impact this had on all aspects of their lives."

As the CQC itself acknowledges, the community inspections took place midway through the implementation of the planned redesign, which involved more than 700 staff and more than 30 teams. Many of the issues highlighted by the inspectors had been identified by the Trust to the CQC in advance of the team visits and actions were in place to deal with these issues.

While most people spoken to by the inspectors were happy with the service they received and praised staff, the CQC raised concerns about the limited evidence of people's views and experiences being taken into account in the way the service was provided, insufficient information on services, difficulties in contacting the service, incomplete care records, a lack of assurance that people's needs, including risks, were always assessed in a timely fashion and insufficient qualified, skilled experienced staff to meet people's needs.

In one team, the inspectors raised a safety alert as they were concerned about the number of cases where a new care coordinator appeared not to have been appointed but following investigation by the Bristol Safeguarding Board, they are content at the steps taken by the Trust.

Director of Nursing Hazel Watson said: "Despite raising four moderate concerns, the CQC raised no other immediate patient safety issues. We are working hard to tackle the vacancies and since the inspections were made some 30 people have been recruited.

"I am pleased that in both reports the Trust recognises the work of staff and complemented them on many aspects of their practice. We recognise that the redesign of community services has had a major impact on colleagues but we are confident that once complete, staff and service users will benefit from the changes."

Visit the CQC website to access the community teams report and the Callington Road report.