A specialist inpatient unit providing care for people with learning disabilities in Leicestershire and Rutland has earned a quality stamp of approval from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The Agnes Unit, on Anstey Lane in Leicester, is part of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) and provides inpatient care for adults with learning disabilities whose mental health, behaviour and risk cannot be supported in the community.
It has been accredited by the College, the professional body responsible for raising and setting standards in psychiatry, until February 2022. This follows a stringent independent assessment by external reviewers under its Accreditation for Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMS) programme.
This is the fifth successive two-year stamp of quality approval for the unit, which offers person-centred care for patients from a multi-disciplinary team.
Accreditation provides assurance for patients, carers, commissioners, regulators, staff and the wider public about the quality of inpatient services for adults who have both learning disability and mental health needs.
The Agnes Unit cares for up to 12 patients with learning disabilities who are 18 years or older and have mental health needs, pervasive developmental disorders, cognitive problems and challenging behaviours. It provides a short-term assessment and treatment service to help patients be able to live safely in the community again.
AIMS accreditation also supports the Agnes Unit team to work with patients and carers on further improvements to the quality of care it provides.
Team manager Francine Bailey said: “We are proud and delighted to reconfirm our AIMS accreditation, which reflects high standards and the knowledge, skills and compassion of our staff who work hard to provide the best care possible.
“We are committed to continuing our programme of quality improvements at the unit, which most recently have included the strengthening of processes for physical health checks and improving our care plans.
“Now we’re looking to work even closer with patients and carers. We have recently introduced a patient-carer facilitator into post and her focus will be on listening to their views and incorporating them into future improvements. For example, we hope soon to launch quarterly advocacy clinics and will be working closely with partner organisations from the community.”
Facilities at the Agnes Unit are made up of homely living area ‘pods’, each with four en-suite bedrooms. The unit has a therapy suite, two bathrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchen and office as well as a courtyard and access to a very large garden.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We have a budget in excess of £275 million and employ approximately 5,500
staff. For more information visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk - Raising Health is our registered charity (number 1057361) which raises funds to support LPT’s excellent care initiatives, equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision, to enhance the experience of our patients, service users and staff. www.raisinghealth.org.uk
For further information contact: Sheila Ashton, communications manager, Leicestershire
Partnership NHS Trust, Tel: 0116 295 0042, E: sheila.ashton@leicspart.nhs.uk