Kings Norton Hospital

We rated safe as good. Information about learning from incidents was shared with staff. There were systems in place to report to maintenance any work needed to ensure the environment was safe. Work was in progress at the time of our visit to ensure the staircases were safe. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding and the procedures to follow if they witnessed or suspected abuse.

Staff received training appropriate and relevant to their role. Restraint was only used as a last resort. Managers were trying to reduce restrictive practices and staff used ‘Safewards’ interventions to help reduce restrictive practices. People were protected as much as possible from the risk of infection because premises and equipment were kept clean and hygienic. People had information about their medicines explained to them in a way they could understand.

However, people did not always feel their belongings were kept safe during their admission. Most staff had the information they needed in handovers about people’s needs and risks, however 3 staff said this could be improved. Staff assessed people’s risks, but 3 of 8 people spoken with said they were not always involved in these.

Staff were not always effectively deployed to ensure people had their leave from the hospital. However, the provider showed us staff training was ongoing to improve this.

The systems to record and store people’s medicines and record their physical health observations following taking them were not always effective at the time of our visit in September 2024. However, the provider has since demonstrated these systems have improved.