Hospital put in special measures by regulator
GoogleA hospital providing mental health care for children and adolescents has been put in special measures after it was rated inadequate during an inspection.
Five breaches of regulations were identified at Ivetsey Bank Hospital near Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors.
It launched the inspection, in March and April, after young people who had self-harmed suffered injuries through the use of restraint.
Owner Active Care Group said it was "disappointed" with the finding, but "fully recognised the concerns identified within the report".
The hospital caters for young people aged 12-17 who have a diagnosed mental health condition.
'Staff feared repercussions'
The CQC downgraded the overall rating and ratings for how safe and well-led the service was from good to inadequate, and how caring the service is from requires improvement to inadequate.
How effective and responsive the service remains on a requires improvement rating.
The special measures regime involves close monitoring to ensure patients are safe while the hospital makes improvements, and provides a structured timeframe for improvements with further action to be taken if this does not happen.
Gemma Berry, CQC's deputy director of mental health in the West Midlands, said risks were not being managed effectively.
"We saw repeated incidents of young people undertaking self-harm and identified concerns about the way restraint was being used," she said.
The team reviewed CCTV footage alongside staff, she added, who "immediately recognised that further investigation was needed".
"We also found that staff didn't consistently feel respected or supported, and some told us they were reluctant to raise concerns because they feared repercussions," Berry added.
'Making progress'
A spokesperson for Active Care Group said: "The safety and quality of care we provide to children and young people remains our highest priority.
They added the findings had been reviewed, leading to a "comprehensive improvement programme".
"We have already made progress in a number of areas and are working closely with the CQC, commissioners and NHS partners to deliver further sustained improvements," they said.
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.