Chesterfield independent mental health service placed into special measures

The Care Quality Commission has rated Cygnet Acer Clinic, in Chesterfield, as Inadequate following an inspection.

CQC carried out a focused inspection at the service on 19, 20 and 28 August 2019 following a number of concerns and a serious incident.

The inspection highlighted further concerns. As a result, CQC placed urgent conditions on the service’s registration to stop admissions and it is now in special measures.

This means a further inspection will take place within six months and, if improvements are not made, CQC will take action to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service.

In November 2018, CQC rated the service as Good overall. The most recent inspection looked specifically at whether the service is safe and well-led and, as a result, the service is now rated as Inadequate overall as well as for whether its services are safe and well-led.

The service provides care and treatment for female patients with personality disorder and who self-harm, some of whom also have a mental illness, learning disability, substance misuse problems or unrelated physical health condition.

CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (and lead for mental health), Dr Kevin Cleary, said:

A spokesperson for the clinic said: