- Independent mental health service
Castle Lodge Independent Hospital
Report from 24 June 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings - Wards for older people with mental health problems
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: Tuesday 23 to Wednesday 24 September 2025.
Barchester Healthcare Homes Ltd provides wards for older people with mental health problems at Castle Lodge Independent Hospital. At the time of the assessment, the service provided treatment and care for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act or as an informal patient experiencing cognitive impairment, enduring mental health illness and behaviour that challenges. The service had 10 male patients on Bluebell ward and 5 female patients on Primrose ward, and we visited both wards as part of the assessment.
We rated the service as outstanding. The service was previously rated good. The service had a strong person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering culture, which achieved exceptional outcomes for people. People were thoroughly supported to have choice and control, were involved in planning their care and staff were fully invested in client’s wellbeing. The service identified and supported the wider health needs of clients, wellbeing and communication needs and were committed to improving outcomes for people. The service worked in collaboration with carers, families and external partners, and the organisation encouraged improvement initiatives and innovative practice.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
All staff completed mandatory training in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DoLS), Mental Health Act, the Code of Practice and the guiding principles.
The staff we spoke with had a good understanding of mental capacity and were confident about how to assess it. Staff told us they took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions and provided good examples regarding raising safeguarding concerns.
Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy.
We reviewed 6 care records and found evidence that people's needs were met in line with current guidance and by undertaking capacity assessments and best interest decisions when appropriate. All detained patients were made aware of their rights and patient restrictions were regularly reviewed to maximise their independence.
Multi-disciplinary team discussions involved the patient and patient's family in decision making and planning care and treatment. The hospital had good governance in place and compliance audits in place to ensure staff provided evidence-based care and treatment.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 4 patients and 3 family and relatives and reviewed 6 feedback forms. All people fed back that patients were treated kindly and compassionately. They stated that staff encouraged independence, choice and control.
During our inspection, we observed exceptionally good interactions between staff and people and that staff promoted independence to deliver person centred care and treatment.
Staff collaborated with partner agencies, signposting and supporting patients to access other means of support.
We received verbal and written feedback from 6 external partners who told us the service was excellent at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion and treated people with privacy and dignity. They also told us how they were treated with professionalism, kindness and respect.