St Christopher's Hospice, with sites in Sydenham and Orpington, has retained its overall 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an unannounced inspection on June 24. The inspection was triggered by "safeguarding notifications" that had raised concerns, but the report published on August 19 confirmed the service's highest rating remains intact. No further details were shared about the nature of the safeguarding notifications.
Inspection Focus and Findings
Amanda Mayo, Care Director at St Christopher's, said: "We are incredibly proud to have retained our Outstanding CQC rating following an inspection that focussed on safeguarding practices, which reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion our teams bring to their work every day." Inspectors examined four sets of patient clinical records, spoke with 20 staff members, and reviewed safeguarding incidents and recruitment records.
On safeguarding, inspectors stated: "The evidence showed a good standard. The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that." They noted that staff knew how to identify people at risk of significant harm or abuse and could give examples of protecting patients from harassment and discrimination, including those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act.
Staff and Culture Praised
Ms Mayo highlighted that inspectors were particularly positive about her colleagues, describing them as welcoming, professional, and highly knowledgeable, with strong confidence in their roles. She added: "This feedback is a testament to the commitment of everyone across St Christopher's to delivering exceptional care and support for the people and communities we serve."
The service was praised for having a "clear process" for reporting and learning from safeguarding incidents. Staff told inspectors there was an "open culture" where they could report incidents or raise concerns without fear of blame or victimisation.
Strategic Priorities and Areas for Improvement
The hospice has published a safeguarding strategy outlining priorities for the next three years, including six strategic priorities: safe people, confident workforce, learning and improvement, equity and person-centred safeguarding, partnership working, and governance and assurance. Inspectors noted clear assurance measures, such as reviewing safeguarding activity and themes, training compliance, audits, and feedback from patients and families.
However, inspectors identified a gap: welcome packs given to patients and families in the in-patient unit do not explain how to raise safeguarding concerns. They added: "We did not see this information displayed anywhere else in the hospice. It was unclear how the service supported people to understand safeguarding and personal safety, or how it empowered them to recognise and report concerns for themselves or others."
The report's publication confirms the hospice's continued high standard of care, with the safeguarding strategy providing a structured approach to ensure safety and protection for all who use the service.
