During the inspection we spent most of our time on Walmersley Unit. We spoke with one patient and four relatives. Comments made included; “Really good care; very pleased with everything. I have no complaints”. “I am so pleased with the progress that has been made. The intensive physiotherapy has helped so much”. “The nursing care is good”.

We saw that the patients’ care records contained detailed information to show how they were to be treated, supported and cared for. An inspection of their care records also showed that they had access to other health and social care services. We were also made aware of the systems that were in place to make sure that information was passed on when a patient's care was transferred to another service.

We inspected the management of medicines on Walmersley Unit and saw that arrangements were in place to ensure that the patients received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

Adequate equipment and adaptations were available to ensure the patients’ needs were met. Staff we spoke with had an in depth knowledge of the specialised equipment that was in use.

The patients were cared for by sufficient staff who were suitably qualified and had the skills and competencies to care for them safely.

As far as they were able to do so, patients were involved in decision making about their care and treatment. We spoke with three patients who told us the following; “I know about my care and the future plans for me. They talk to me and I know what I have to do”. “The staff are competent, they know what they are doing. Staff listen to me and follow my requests”. “I have seen my care plan and I attended a case conference last week”.

Patients were well cared for and their care records contained detailed information to show how they were to be supported and cared for. Two of the patients we spoke with told us; “It is definitely good care here. It is better than being in hospital. I like it here. They are always egging me on to do more”. “I have an excellent standard of care. They have helped me to get walking again”.

Systems were in place to help protect patients by ensuring that staff were safely recruited and suitably trained in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people. We spoke with nine staff members who told us they had been trained in the protection of children and vulnerable adults. They also told us that they would feel confident in reporting any issues of abuse.

The people that we spoke to told us that they were happy with the care provided and they felt that the staff knew what they were doing.

They felt that this was the best place to be in due to the expertise of the staff.

They also told us that they felt involved when it came to decision making about the care and treatment provided.

Priory Highbank Centre is operated by Priory Rehabilitation Services Limited and provides in-patient mental health services for adults and specialist neurological rehabilitation for adults and children.

The hospital has a total of 34 beds comprising of 24 rehabilitation beds for patients of all ages with a brain injury or a neuro-disability and along term high dependency rehabilitation unit for 10 male patients aged 18 and over who have a diagnosis of mental disorder.

Facilities include designated therapy areas, dining and outside areas, a family sitting room and a self-contained flat which can be used for patients and their families.

The Priory Highbank Centre was last inspected by the CQC in December 2016 and was rated ‘good’ overall. We inspected this service using our next phase inspection methodology and carried out an unannounced inspection on 5 ,6 and 13 December 2018.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led? Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Our rating of this hospital stayed the same.

We rated this hospital as requires Good overall because:

• The service provided a safe and clean environment with enough staff to keep patients safe.
• Staff cared for patients with compassion and provided emotional support to patients to minimise their distress. Staff involved patients and those close to them in decisions about their care and treatment.
• Managers across the hospital promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.

However, we found that:

• The service did not consistently notify the Care Quality Commission of reportable incidents, which occurred whilst services were being provided in the carrying out of a regulated activity.

• Care plans were not fully holistic and recovery orientated in relation to discharge planning.

• ​Following this inspection, we told the provider that it must take some actions to comply with the regulations and that it should make other improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve. We also issued the provider with one requirement notice that affected long-term conditions. Details are at the end of the report.

  Ellen Armistead

  Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals