Page 41 - Calderstone AR 2015

Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 41 Yearbook 2014 - 2015
December
16th December: Following another of the regular carers’ group meetings, service users performed a moving and funny version of The Snow Queen during the Christmas Carol Service.
17th December: The Care Quality Commission published their report of their July inspection of Calderstones. The Trust responded by saying it accepted their findings and it issued details of progress since then to media outlets. Senior staff had been fully briefed on the report and had been aware of the results for a considerable period of time, with significant work already having been done.
The CQC report clearly stated that “the great majority of people” at Calderstones are treated “kindly and respectfully” and had good access to advocacy services who support them, people have good access to interpreting services and faith needs. The inspectors found that senior leadership are visible to front line
staff and they noted good practice in applying the Mental Capacity Act. The report drew strong attention to examples of leadership.
It also noted that staff are engaged with the Trust’s strategies and are caring in their interactions with service users. However, the main headline which the media gave prominence to was about restraint (a way of preventing an individual hurting themselves or other people if they reach a high level
of agitation).
The Chief Executive wrote to carers to assure them that the July inspection came weeks after the Department for Health issued new recommendations on the use of restraint. Mark Hindle explained that “at Calderstones this type of restraint is used only as a last resort for the shortest time possible. Inevitably, the data seen by the inspectors about the practice in Calderstones dated back to before the new guidance”.
He assured families that this year the Trust has seen a major investment in seeking appropriate alternatives and there has been a big reduction in the use of prone restraint.
19th December: As well as giving messages of support to staff following media reports about the CQC inspection, Mark continued his monthly breakfast meetings with staff as part of more direct engagement with staff. In the evening, Mark and senior colleagues attended the service user Christmas disco in St Luke’s.
Mark’s monthly breakfast meetings