Cygnet Victoria House

Updated 5 January 2026

We rated this service as good. Although there were some concerns in the safe key question regarding medication documentation and environmental checks. There was enough staff to keep people safe and patients were cared for by skilled staff that delivered a range of therapeutic interventions in line with people’s individual needs. Care records were detailed and showed that staff involved patients and their carers in planning their care and treatment and decision making. There was clear governance and oversight in place and the wider multi-disciplinary team were integrated into patients care and discharge planning. Policies and procedures were in place ensuring transitions and discharges were safe and effective. There was minimal use of restraint within the service.

Updated 1 August 2025

Cygnet Victoria House is run by Cygnet Behavioural Health Limited and is a 26-bedded independent hospital. Cygnet Victoria House provides needs-led services for men who are experiencing an acute episode of mental illness and require an emergency admission who are detained under the Mental Health Act, or on an informal basis. The hospital comprises 2 separate wards, both of which we assessed:

• Albert Ward - Specialist PICU Service (9 beds)
• Victoria Ward – Acute Service (17 beds)

The hospital director was the registered manager and controlled drugs accountable officer. Controlled drugs accountable officers are responsible for all aspects of controlled drugs management within their organisation.

Cygnet Victoria House is registered to carry out the following regulated activities:

• Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury

This service was registered by the CQC on 17th of November 2010. We last inspected Cygnet Victoria House in 2024 and the service was rated good over all with requires improvement in safe. At that inspection, a breach of the legal regulation in relation to staffing was identified as the service did not have enough nursing staff to ensure patients were able to receive adequate therapeutic care as required by their own staffing matrix and the staffing matrix had not been reviewed since May 2016. At this assessment, we found staff provision, and oversight of it had improved across the service.

We assessed Cygnet Victoria House on 6, 7 and 13 August 2025. The assessment was prompted partly as a result of patient safety concerns following a review of specific incidents that occurred at this service. This assessment did not review the exact circumstances of these specific incidents.

At this assessment we assessed 1 assessment service group; Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance

Mental Health Act

Staff had completed their mandatory Mental Health Act awareness training. Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Health Act, the Code of Practice and the guiding principles.

Staff had easy access to administrative support and legal advice on implementation of the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice. Staff knew who the Mental Health Act administrator was within the service.

The provider had relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance.

Staff had easy access to local Mental Health Act policies and procedures and to the Code of Practice.

Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy. Staff recorded where they had discussed with patients their rights under the Mental Health Act.

Staff ensured that patients were able to take Section 17 leave (permission for patients to leave hospital) when this had been granted. We also attended two morning meetings, during which, the multidisciplinary team reviewed patients access to Section 17 leave and if any changes should be made such as moving from escorted to unescorted.

Staff sought the opinion of a second opinion appointed doctor (SOAD) when necessary. The SOAD's role is to provide an additional safeguard to protect the patient’s rights, primarily by deciding whether certain treatments are appropriate.

The service had arrangements to monitor adherence to the Mental Health Act. The Mental Health Act administrator within the service checked associated documentation to ensure staff followed the Act correctly.

Staff did audits to ensure that the Mental Health Act was being applied correctly and there was evidence of learning from those audits.

Mental Capacity Act

Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, in particular the five statutory principles.

The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it.

Staff knew where to get advice regarding the Mental Capacity Act, including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff could seek advice and guidance from the Mental Health Act administrator within the service.

Staff took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions.

Staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent appropriately when there were concerns about a patient’s mental capacity. They did this on a decision-specific basis with regard to significant decisions. When patients lacked capacity, staff made decisions in their best interests, recognising the importance of the person’s wishes, feelings, culture and history.

The service had arrangements to monitor adherence to the Mental Capacity Act. This role was undertaken by the Mental Health Act administrator within the service who checked associated documentation to ensure staff followed the Act correctly.