RAPID improvements need to be made to secure and inpatient wards at a Dawlish mental health care centre, inspectors have ruled.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission made unannounced visits to Langdon Hospital following concerns about patient safety and the unit’s leadership.

The CQC has since taken action to protect people on the wards by issuing a warning notice for Devon Partnership Trust which runs the hospital to focus on making ‘rapid and widespread improvements to ensure safe care and treatment and good management of the service’.

Catherine Campbell, CQC’s deputy director of operations in Devon, said: ‘We have told the trust where it needs to make rapid improvements and will continue to monitor the service closely to ensure people stay safe while this happens.’

Inspectors identified five areas of concern during the unannounced visits in April and May.

However, the CQC did not publish the reports as soon as it should have been‘a large-scale transformation programme’. It has apologised for the delay.

It found breaches of regulations related to safe care and treatment, person centred care, dignity and respect, staffing and good management of the service.

Following the inspections, the CQC rated the forensic inpatient or secure wards as requires improvement.

Devon Partnership Trust was told two submit a plan showing what ‘immediate action’ it was taking in response to concerns at the time of the inspection.

The warning notice was issued to ‘focus the trust’s attention on making rapid and widespread improvements to ensure safe care and treatment and good management of the service’.

Since the initial inspection, the CQC has again rated how safe, effective and well-led forensic inpatient or secure wards are as requires improvement.

Catherine Campbell, CQC’s deputy director of operations in Devon, said: ‘When we inspected these wards at Langdon Hospital, we found inconsistent care planning and risk management affecting the quality of people’s daily lives and recovery.

‘Staff were committed to providing good care, but were hindered by gaps in training, unclear guidance, and limited access to resources.

‘As a result, care plans were often outdated, not tailored to individuals, and didn’t reflect people’s goals or preferences.

‘Many people told us they weren’t always involved in decisions about their care, medications, or risk assessments.

‘This left some feeling frustrated, powerless, or stuck in their recovery. Staff sometimes used risk assessment tools inconsistently, which made restrictions feel unfair or punitive.

‘Staff had limited awareness of safety risks in the environment, which affected people’s safety.

‘Staff shortages during busy or critical periods also impacted people’s ability to access leave or take part in activities, affecting their independence and sense of control.’

However, the CQC said people ‘consistently praised’ occupational therapy and some individual staff members for supporting their wellbeing and enabling meaningful engagement.

Staff have improved physical health monitoring, allowing early intervention for concerns, and have demonstrated ‘openness and a willingness to speak up’.

Ms Campbell continued: ‘Despite these pockets of improvement, people’s general experiences showed care wasn’t always person-centred, and inconsistent policies and risk management reduced people’s autonomy, left some feeling frustrated or unsafe, and limited opportunities for a positive recovery.

‘We have told the trust where it needs to make rapid improvements and will continue to monitor the service closely to ensure people stay safe while this happens.’