Cygnet Bury Forestwood offers CAMHS Tier 4 PICU, General Acute and Low Secure services across four wards and is now rated ‘Good’ across all key lines of enquiry; Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-Led.
The inspection team, who spoke to carers and young people during their visit, recognised the dedication, compassion and professionalism of staff alongside the service’s commitment to creating a safe, supportive and empowering environment.
Inspectors highlighted a proactive and positive culture of safety based on openness and honesty, stating: “Concerns about safety are listened to, safety events are investigated and reported thoroughly, and lessons are learned to continually identify and embed good practices.”
They said young people were actively involved in care planning and risk assessment, supported by an advocacy service that ensured their voices were heard, and staff communicated with them in ways that met their individual needs, including those with communication difficulties. Weekly community meetings ensured young people could give feedback and help shape their service.
Inspectors found care to be consistently effective, with “personalised, holistic and recovery-oriented care plans.” The report highlighted there are a wide range of treatments available, including occupational therapy, psychology, art therapy, family therapy and pet therapy, with some young people even able to have their pets live with them on the ward. Physical health is given equal priority, with every young person having an individual physical healthcare plan and access to a dietician.
The CQC praised the staffing team which “included a full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients in the service”. They said doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, pharmacists, speech and language therapists and dieticians, all worked together to meet a young person’s needs.
The report noted: “Staff supported patients to live healthier lives. Ward activities helped promote a healthy lifestyle for patients and there was a range of activities that supported this, including walking groups, cooking groups, access to the gym with guidance from gym instructors and healthy meal options on the menu.”
Caring relationships were at the heart of the service, with the CQC observing staff to be discreet, respectful and compassionate, providing emotional support at the time it was needed.
Inspectors said: “Staff attitudes and behaviours when interacting with patients showed that they were kind, caring and compassionate, providing patients with help, emotional support and advice at the time they needed it. We carried out an observation of care and saw that staff were discreet, respectful, and responsive when caring for young people.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect and involved as partners in their care.”
The regulator highlighted how staff support access to education through an on-site school, homework help and liaison with home education providers, even enabling one young person to sit a GCSE exam while in seclusion.
Praising the workplace culture, the report said: “Staff we spoke with said that they felt respected, supported and valued. Staff felt positive and proud about working for the service and their team. They spoke highly of managers and senior leaders and there was a positive culture within the teams.”
The inspection also found the service to be highly responsive to individual needs. Care plans were co-produced where possible, and young people were empowered to make decisions about their treatment. Pet therapy requests were thoughtfully risk-assessed and supported, while religious and cultural needs were respected through access to community places of worship. Families and carers were kept informed with regular updates, invited to meetings, and promptly notified of any incidents. Discharge planning was highlighted for being thorough and collaborative, ensuring no one left the service before they were ready, with community support arranged in advance.
Cygnet Bury Forestwood was also recognised as being well-led, with “visible and approachable leaders” who were “compassionate and promoted work life balance”. Inspectors said the service has embraced innovation, with projects such as the development of a therapy garden and the installation of a trampoline for young people to promote physical activity and wellbeing.
Cheryl Wood, Registered Manager, said: “All of us at Cygnet Health Care are incredibly proud of this achievement and of every member of our dedicated team here at Cygnet Bury Forestwood.
“This new rating reflects the hard work, compassion and professionalism that our staff demonstrate every single day, as well as the strong and positive culture we have built together. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care in a safe and supportive environment where our young people and women feel respected, listened to and empowered to take an active role in their recovery.
“The inspectors’ findings recognise not only the skill and dedication of our teams, but also the kindness, creativity and innovation they bring to their work, from promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting education, to involving families in care planning and embracing new initiatives like our therapy garden.
“This is a milestone we will celebrate, but it is also a foundation on which we will continue to build, ensuring that every individual who comes to us receives the best possible care and opportunities for a brighter future.”