Mill Lodge and Red Kite View in Yorkshire rated 'good' by CQC

The Care Quality Commission rated Mill Lodge in York and Red Kite View in Leeds as 'good' following inspections in October; inspectors said young people felt safe and staff showed kindness, but flagged shortcomings in medicines management.

Two inpatient units for teenagers with severe mental health needs in Yorkshire were inspected by the Care Quality Commission in October and received a collective rating of "good". Both services are run by the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Inspectors reported that young people were positive about the care and said they felt safe on the wards. The CQC noted staff treated people with kindness, empathy and respect for privacy and dignity. Inspection findings: - The CQC gave both Mill Lodge (York) and Red Kite View (Armley, Leeds) an overall rating of "good". - Young people reported feeling safe and spoke positively about the service they received. - Inspectors observed that staff worked with kindness, empathy and respect and used ways to communicate with young people who have communication difficulties. - Mill Lodge, opened in 2015 in Huntington, has 10 beds for adolescents needing intensive help; Red Kite View, opened in early 2022, has a 16‑bed general unit and a six‑bed psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). - Activities at both sites, including access to a gym and sports, were reported to help promote a healthy lifestyle. - The CQC said medicines management needed improvement; inspectors noted ongoing issues at Red Kite View with staff not recording temperatures daily to confirm medicines were kept in the correct environment, although medicines were stored securely and stock levels were maintained. Summary: The CQC's "good" ratings reflect positive findings on safety, staff interactions and activities that support young people. Inspectors required improvements to medicines management, including temperature-recording practices at Red Kite View. Undetermined at this time.