St Pancras Hospital

On the 21st, 22nd, 29th and 30th August we carried out announced inspections to two recovery and rehabilitation teams, two home treatment teams, older people's community mental health services, a clozapine clinic and a depot clinic all providing community based mental health services to people living in Camden. In addition we visited the borough wide assessment team, met with the trust leads for clinical governance and complaints and examined a range of records and documents.

During our hospital and community visits we spoke with people who use the service, with staff, team managers and some senior managers

We found that the provider did not have suitable arrangements in place for obtaining the consent of people who were receiving treatment in hospital. We also found that the provider had not taken proper steps to ensure that people who use the service were protected against the risks of receiving care or treatment that was inappropriate or unsafe by planning and delivering care and treatment in such a way as to ensure that people's individual needs, welfare and safety were met.

People who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. People were also protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. However, the provider may wish to note concerns raised by some people who use the service and staff relating to staffing levels.

People were cared for by staff that were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

We spoke to people who use the service, they told us that:

"Once I had made contact with the service I was seen very quickly",

"My keyworker really understands my situation - they work at the pace I am ready to go at", "I see my keyworker regularly and they are always there at the end of the phone if I need to speak to them between appointments", "I was referred straight to residential detox - I didn't feel like I had to jump through any hoops before I got the help I needed" and "When I was off at detox my keyworker kept in contact with me to see how I was getting on".

We found that before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. People experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. Suitable arrangements were in place to ensure that people who use the service and their families were protected from the risk of abuse. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.