AN unannounced CQC inspection of Arbury Court at Winwick, Warrington identified breaches of safety regulations, specifically regarding inaccurate ligature risk assessments across its secure forensic and PICU wards.
While the facility was praised and Rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, for its modern environment, personalised care, and patient involvement, the failure to maintain safe environmental risk assessments prompted a demand for a formal action plan.
Inspectors visited Arbury Court from 3 to 4 February 2026. The facility provides medium and low secure care and Psychiatric Intensive Care (PICU) for women aged 18 years and over with Personality Disorder (PD) and mental illness.
Arbury Court is a modern, spacious facility with extensive grounds for the patients. There is a dedicated occupational therapy and activities area with a patient shop, gymnasium, and salon. Each patient has a private en-suite bedroom, which can be personalised. Patients take an active role in the day-to-day working of the hospital through participation in meetings, staff recruitment, peer support, and volunteering in various vocational work roles within the hospital and the local community.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced inspection of all three forensic inpatient or secure wards and acute wards for adults of working age / psychiatric intensive care units at the service. The service had, prior to the inspection, undergone a reconfiguration of wards and staff, leading to a reduced number of forensic inpatient or secure wards, and the closure of an acute ward. The inspection was the result of consideration of risk and to follow up on actions from the previous inspection, published in June 2025.
Arbury Court is registered to deliver the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury. At the time of the inspection, the service was going through the process of registering a new Registered Manager.
During the inspection they assessed two assessment service groups; Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units where we assessed 33 quality statements and Forensic inpatient or secure wards where we assessed 33 quality statements.
At this assessment they identified a breach of regulation 12 safe care and treatment.
In the acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, they found one breach of regulation in relation to safe environments and effective ligature risk assessment.
In the forensic inpatient or secure wards inspection, they found one breach of regulation in relation to safe environments and effective ligature risk assessment. The service was in breach of legal regulation 12 (2) (d) of the Health and Social Care Act (2008), in that the ligature assessments for the service were not accurate or relevant to the locations assessed.
They have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
In response a spokesperson for said: “We are pleased to confirm that Arbury Court has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission following their latest inspection of the service.
“As a provider of highly specialised mental health care, it is essential to us that we continue to strive to deliver the very best care and support. This result is a recognition of the dedication and skill of our care team.
“This inspection rated the service as ‘Good’ and recognised ongoing improvement from the previous report, that said we acknowledge it identified that some steps needed to be taken in terms of safety. The senior leadership team has already implemented a detailed action plan to address these limited issues, and they remain under close review.
“The safety and wellbeing of our patients remains our highest priority, and we continue to work closely with the CQC in this regard.”
The full inspection report can be read by CLICKING HERE
