Brook Bristol is part of the larger organisation Brook Young People and provides confidential sexual health services, support and advice to young people under the age of 25. Brook Bristol is registered to provide care and treatment under the following regulated activities: diagnostic and screening services, family planning and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

During the inspection, we reviewed documentation such as care and treatment records. We spoke with young people attending the clinics and staff working at the service to seek their views of the service.

We found:

• The service ensured up to date care and treatment was delivered to young people and based upon national guidelines. The service participated in and used the outcomes from local and national audits to develop and implement care and treatment pathways for young people.

• Staff worked well together as part of a multidisciplinary team to coordinate and deliver patient’s care and treatment effectively. Staff were committed to working collaboratively with external organisations in order to deliver joined up care for young people.

• Consent practices and records were actively monitored and reviewed to ensure young people were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment in line with relevant legislation.

• The privacy, dignity and confidentiality of young people attending the service was protected and staff treated them respectfully at all times.

• Young people were treated as individuals and there was a strong visible young person centred culture within the service.

• The feedback from young people who used the service and stakeholders was consistently positive.

  Young people gave clear examples, which demonstrated the value they placed upon the service and how staff supported them.

• Young people were protected from avoidable harm. Safeguarding of children and young people was managed proactively and effectively by staff trained to recognise early signs of abuse.

• Openness and transparency about safety was encouraged.

• Confidential and personal information was stored securely at all times.

• The service was planned and delivered in a range of locations and at suitable times, to ensure the service was convenient and accessible to the local population.

• The facilities and premises were suitable for the delivery and effectiveness of the service.

• There was a proactive approach to understanding the needs of different groups of young people and to deliver services in a way which supported them and demonstrated equality.

• The local leadership shaped the culture through effective engagement with staff and young people who used the service. Staff felt respected and valued by their colleagues, their managers and the national organisation.

However:

• The record keeping did not consistently ensure staff would see accurate information about the young person when looking at their records due to two systems of recording being in operation.

• There were some risks identified to staff when lone working.

• Not all young people were aware of how to make a complaint.

• At times young people experienced a delay in waiting times prior to seeing a clinician.

• Not all staff were up to date with their mandatory training.

• Not all of the clinical waste had not been disposed of promptly and appropriately.

• Policies and procedures had been printed from the intranet. This ran the risk of staff following guidance which was out of date. For example, the infection control policy and procedure which had been printed and displayed in the department was not the updated version..