Ashford Unit is celebrating a big win!

They are now the second service in England to get a special award from the Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services (QNFMHS). This award shows that Ashford Unit is doing a great job in taking care of their patients.

The unit, which is purpose-built for adult males who have learning disabilities, took part in the QNFMHS accreditation pilot, which began in December 2023.

To achieve accreditation, the team underwent a detailed review. Experts checked their work against 160 quality standards. They looked at documents, talked to patients, staff, and carers, and did surveys. Ashford Unit met the high standards required to earn the award.

Ashford implemented several improvements during the review. They introduced carer liaison and revamped the carer process. For staff, they hosted development days and held health inequalities sessions and made their documentation processes better. These changes improved the quality of care and empowered staff.

Ella Hibbs-Newman, the Project Officer for the QNFMHS, praised the team: “Congratulations to the Ashford team for all your hard work in gaining the accreditation. It is a great achievement to be the second unit ever to get this accreditation.”

Provider Collaborative Case Manager Bev Taylor-Wade expressed pride in Ashford’s achievements “Having already achieved the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network for Inpatient Learning Disability Services accreditation and now being awarded the QNFMHS accreditations is outstanding and well deserved.

“As a regularly visiting commissioner, it is great to see the team’s growing skills and expertise benefiting patients. Well done to everyone involved.”

As the only service in the country to receive both the Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services and the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network for Inpatient Learning Disability Services accreditations the dedication of the Ashford team is to be celebrated. They have a clear direction for the future.

March 2025