St Martha's

We rated St Martha’s as good overall because:

• The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe and clean. The service was staffed to establishment and shortages on shifts were filled with bank or agency staff to ensure a safe level of staffing on the wards. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They generally minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• Staff developed holistic, person-centred care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice, including therapeutic groups such as mindfulness sessions, art therapy, music therapy and drama therapy.
• The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards, for example occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and a physiotherapist with a speciality in neurological disorders. Managers ensured that these staff received an induction and regular supervision. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare such as care co-ordinators and social workers.
• Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Patients had their section 132 rights read regularly and patient’s capacity to consent to treatment and admission was reviewed every three months.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. They actively involved families and carers in care decisions and patients where possible.
• The service was well-led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly. The service shared learning and knowledge with a local hospital of the same provider.

However:

• Patients were not able to openly access water in communal areas. Patients had to ask staff if they wanted a drink as they were locked away. Staff did not risk assess locking away drinks on an individual basis and this wasn’t included in the service’s blanket restrictions log for review.