“This report is a testament to the dedication, compassion and professionalism of our entire team” – hospital manager Joanna Yarker
Staff at Cygnet Newham House in Hemlington(Image: UGC)
Staff at a specialised Hemlington hospital which caters for women with brain injuries are celebrating a glowing report following inspection from care watchdogs.
The Care Quality Commission carried out an unannounced inspection at Cygnet Newham House in Hemlington in December and the recently published report has rated the service as ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ in the well led category.
This is the second accolade in two months with the unit being rated as ‘outstanding’ by the brain injury charity, Headway, in February.
Cygnet Newham House, on Hemlington Village Road, is a 20-bed neuropsychiatric care and treatment facility providing rehabilitation for women affected by acquired brain injuries (ABI). The CQC rated it as ‘good’ in safe, effective, responsive and caring areas.
Praising how well-led the Cygnet Health Care service is, the CQC noted a positive and supportive workplace culture. The report read: “The service always cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff,” adding that “staff felt respected, supported and valued” and were “positive and proud about working for the provider and within their team.” Initiatives such as a ‘moment of thanks’ board enabled staff to recognise each other’s contributions and celebrate acts of kindness, teamwork and support.
Leadership at the service was applauded, with the CQC stating: “The service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders promoted high-quality, person-centred care” and demonstrated “integrity, openness and honesty.”
The report read: “Feedback from patients presented a positive picture of the service, with consistent themes of caring staff, supportive therapeutic input and good involvement in care planning.” Patients told inspectors they had regular one-to-one time with nurses and that “staff were available and responsive when they needed support”.
Patients said there were enough activities they enjoyed, they liked the food, staff were always willing to help and support patients and they felt involved in decisions about their care.
Inspectors noted strong engagement with families and carers also praised the expertise of specialist professionals such as physiotherapists and psychologists. Inspectors said: “Staff attitudes and behaviours showed that they were discreet, respectful and responsive, providing patients with help, emotional support and advice at the time they needed it.” They added: “The service was exceptional at promoting people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.”
A huge range of activities on offer include walking groups, sports, cooking healthy meals, going to the gym, board games, quizzes, music events, horse therapy and a number of days out.
Joanna Yarker, Cygnet Hospital Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been rated good across all domains by the CQC, and especially pleased with outstanding in well-led. We strive to create a positive work culture and environment where staff can provide the best care possible and I am so pleased this has been recognised.
“This report is a testament to the dedication, compassion and professionalism of our entire team, who go above and beyond every day to support the women in our care.
“It is especially rewarding to see such positive feedback from patients and carers, and recognition of the meaningful therapies, activities and opportunities we provide to help individuals regain independence and confidence. We remain committed to continuously improving and delivering safe, high-quality, person-centred care in a supportive and empowering environment.”
Did you know you can make Teesside Live a preferred source of Teesside news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it by clicking here.
For the latest Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, sign up to our free newsletter