Member Article

‘Outstanding’ CQC ranking for Priory’s Kemple View Hospital in Lancashire

• Mental health facility receives highest ranking from CQC • Staff were ‘committed to patients, and empowered them to realise their potential’ • They treat patients with ‘compassion and kindness, and valued patients as individuals’ • There is a ‘huge commitment’ to patient recovery at all levels • Inspectors say staff are ‘responsive, caring and enthusiastic’ • Treatment delivers ‘excellent outcomes’ • Ward teams had ‘highly effective’ working relationships with outside services following a patient’s discharge

A residential hospital for men with mental health disorders is celebrating after being rated ‘outstanding’ by the health and social care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

In its inspection, Kemple View, in Langho, near Blackburn, was rated ‘outstanding’ in all five assessment categories: “are services safe?”, “effective”, “caring”, “responsive” and “well-led”.

By being rated ‘outstanding’ overall, and in every category, it joins the highest rated specialist mental health services in England.

The rating follows a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment.

Kemple View supports around 90 patients with a range of mental health conditions, including those who need support in transitioning between staying in hospital and living in the community. Inspectors visited all six wards over two days to judge the environment and the quality of care staff offered to patients.

In their report, they said: “Patients reported that staff were supportive, respectful, kind and caring and always listened. They were happy that their care and treatment was right for them and they said they felt safe.

“Staff followed best practice in anticipating, de-escalating and managing challenging behaviour and the service had an excellent track record on safety.

“Patients were highly involved in developing their own treatment programmes and there was a strong recovery-focused ethos. Care and treatment achieved excellent outcomes and promoted a good quality of life.”

Inspectors singled out for praise the relationships between patients, relatives and staff, which they described as ‘strong, caring and supportive. Staff were responsive and enthusiastic about the patients’ care and their progress… They were committed to working with patients and empowering them to realise their potential.“

The inspectors went on: “Staff took a positive approach to understanding patients’ diverse needs and delivering care in a way that was accessible and promoted equality. They were proactive in understanding the needs of different groups, especially those who were vulnerable or had complex needs.”

The CQC praised staff for being “encouraging”, “warm”, “friendly” and “motivational” in their interactions with patients. The watchdog described the care team’s knowledge of patients’ needs as “extensive”.

The treatment delivered at Kemple View achieved “excellent outcomes”, according to inspectors. The CQC mentioned how the hospital has a “genuine commitment towards continual improvement and innovation”, and was very well led. There were always staff available to facilitate activities and escorted leave, and patients had access to a range of ‘real work’ opportunities both on site and in the community. Some patients were involved in charity work such as supporting veterans in the community and conservation work.

Kemple View has a fitness suite, sports hall and horticultural area. Patients can take part in a wide range of recovery activities with local partner agencies, including training with local Premier League football club Burnley FC. One person has gained a FA level one coaching badge through this initiative. Some patients have volunteered for organisations such as the Recovery Café, an animal sanctuary and the local food bank.

The report mentioned that the hospital has received external recognition for its work. The therapy team had been awarded the Association of Psychological Therapies award for excellence.

Kemple View is located in Langho, near Blackburn, in Lancashire. It is managed by the Priory Group, which specialises in mental healthcare and runs mental health hospitals and Wellbeing Centres across the UK.

Mags Gallagher, Hospital Director at Kemple View, said: “I am absolutely delighted we have been rated ‘outstanding’ for the second time in a row. We have been an ‘outstanding’ hospital for over three years, and this reflects the brilliant work, and individual investment my staff team makes, to support patients and offer highly personalised care. I want to take this opportunity to thank staff, patients, and their relatives, for working so hard to ensure we achieve so much together.”

Gair Stott, Chief Operating Officer at Priory Healthcare, said: “I cannot overstate how much of an achievement it is to be rated ‘outstanding’ in every category. I am so proud of Mags, her staff team, patients and their relatives for everything they are doing at Kemple View. Everyone who is involved with Kemple View deserves a massive thanks.”

Pictured above left to right are: Kevin Rogers - Ward Manager, Debbie Bolton - Ward Manager, Mags Gallagher - Hospital Director, Dr Deepu Thomas - Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Dheeraj Chaudhary - Consultant Psychiatrist, Hayley Woods - Ward Manager, Paul Cummins - Ward Manager, Dr Victoria Norrington-Moore - Medical Director and Lisa Potter - Director of Clinical Services.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Niamh Donnelly .