The Chimneys Clinic in Bury St Edmunds has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who praised the service’s culture of empowerment and co-production, calling it ‘exceptional’ and ‘distinctive’.
Inspectors from the CQC visited the high dependency rehabilitation service at the end of May, which supports up to 12 people. In reaching the ‘outstanding’ judgement, they particularly noted the ‘exceptionally positive’ feedback from the people supported at The Chimneys and their loved ones about the standards of care.
The report noted: “Everyone said that staff went the extra mile and the care they received exceeded their expectations. Patients felt empowered in their treatment. Patients told us their treatment was individualised, and that staff listened to their choices.
“We observed staff interacting with patients and family members in a respectful, kind, and supportive manner. Safe innovation and positive risk taking was celebrated. There was a strong person-centred culture. Patients were truly respected and valued as individuals and were empowered as partners in their care, practically and emotionally by an exceptional and distinctive service.”
Inspectors also praised the positive outcomes people supported at The Chimneys had achieved, including moving from the service to live independently in the community.
The people supported at The Chimneys shared their views with in
spectors with their report noting: “Patients we spoke with told us it was the best hospital they had ever been in. They told us that staff were consistently kind and caring, really invested in their recovery and they felt truly supported and believed in.” Families and loved ones shared positive remarks also, stating their loved ones were receiving ‘excellent’ care with one adding: “My loved one is doing amazingly – The Chimneys have made such a difference.”
As well as positive feedback from the people supported at The Chimneys, there was praise for the service too from the staff team who, inspectors said, “felt positive and passionate about their roles and the patients they were supporting. Staff felt valued, positive, and proud about working for The Chimneys.”
In their final report, inspectors noted many areas of outstanding practice at The Chimneys Clinic including collaborative working, family communication, engagement and therapy, support for physical health improvement and leadership at the service.
Laura Herdman, Hospital Director at The Chimneys Clinic, said: “We are naturally thrilled that the hard work of the people we support and the staff team at The Chimneys have been recognised by the CQC in this way.
“As a service, we share the same goal, to support people and their loved ones positively and to help them achieve their goals. We are incredibly proud to receive this outstanding grading, the achievement of which has truly been a team effort.”
The Chimneys Clinic – Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
