Camden Park House

Updated 17 October 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Camden Park House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Camden Park House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people living at the service. We observed interactions between people and staff, including during mealtimes. We looked around the premises while checking aspects of health and safety and infection control.

We spoke with 5 staff members, including 3 care workers, the registered manager and a senior regional manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care records and medicines records for 5 people. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to safer recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to staffing and the management of the service, including quality assurance, staff training, accidents and incidents, policies and procedures, health and safety, and meeting minutes were also reviewed.

Following our visit, we spoke with the relative of 1 person.

Updated 17 October 2023

About the service

Camden Park House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 13 people. The service primarily provides support to adults living with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people using the service.

The care home is an adapted building which is spread across 3 floors. People had their own rooms and access to communal areas, including bathrooms, a kitchen, lounge/dining area and an enclosed garden/courtyard.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We were not assured that risks to people were fully assessed and safely managed. We found concerns regarding fire safety, people’s physical environment and risk assessments.

While people told us the food was good, the choices around when people could eat and the availability of hot meals were limited. This indicated that people were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.

Managers evaluated the quality of care and support provided to people. However, existing quality assurance processes were not always effective as they had not identified the issues we found at this inspection.

While people received care and support from regular staff who had the required skills, we found staff training were lacking in some areas. The service carried out recruitment checks to make sure only the suitable staff were employed.

People were protected from risks of abuse. They also received their medicines on time and by trained staff.

Staff assessed people’s health and care needs regularly. Staff also promoted people's health and wellbeing by making sure they had appropriate access to healthcare services. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received care and support from a caring staff team and were involved in making decisions about their care. Staff supported people to remain socially engaged by participating in various activities.

Managers were approachable and promoted effective communication between people and staff. There was a positive culture where people lived in harmony and where staff showed they were passionate about their work.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service, under a previous provider, was good (published 30 November 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to assessing risks to people, person-centred care and good governance.

We have made a recommendation about staff training.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.