AN inspection of two mental health sites in the district found the service was well-led and that patients were treated with “compassion and kindness”.

But inspectors reported that not all staff had completed mandatory training and there needed to be a consistent approach to discharge planning.

The Care Quality Commission made an unannounced visit in December to Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units.

It was prompted partly by reports of serious incidents on some wards, which raised concerns about the safety and quality of care.

Inspectors also returned to check on the progress of improvements the trust was told to make in March last year.

The service wasn’t rated at this inspection and remains as ‘good’. There are also no changes to the trust’s overall grading of ‘requires improvement’.

Inspectors visited the Fern ward at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health in Steeton, as well as the Ashbrook, Maplebeck and Oakburn wards at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford.

Findings included:

* The service was well-led and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.

* Staff developed care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They also provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of people using the service that were in line with national guidance regarding best practice.

* Staff treated people with compassion and kindness and respected their privacy and dignity. They also clearly understood the individual needs of patients and involved them and their families and carers in decisions.

* Staff assessed and managed risk well.

But inspectors said there should be a consistent approach to discharge planning and that all staff should complete their mandatory training.

Regarding the Fern ward, staff did not always complete regular daily environmental reviews and it was noted the ward manager’s desk and office space was located within the clinic room.

A spokesman for the care trust said: “The report clearly recognises that staff treat patients with kindness and respect and understand their individual needs and that the ward environments are clean and safe.

“It also recognises the hard work and commitment of all the staff in continuing to improve the quality of our services, alongside managing the ongoing and unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. It’s testimony to the services’ sustained focus on quality improvement that our acute mental health and psychiatric intensive care wards continue to be rated good across all five areas of caring, responsive, effective, safe and well-led.”