28.01.20
Camden and Islington NHS FT rated 'Good' by CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust as 'Good' overall, retaining its rating from its last inspection.
Camden and Islington NHS FT were rated 'Outstanding' for being effective, 'Good' for being caring, responsive and well-led and 'Requires Improvement' for being safe, following the inspection in October and November 2019.
CQC inspectors carried out comprehensive inspections on three core services: acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units; long stay/rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults; and mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety.
In addition, the CQC carried out a focused inspection of the trust’s community-based mental health services for adults of working age, in which the key criterion reviewed was if services were safe.
The trust had a capable and experienced leadership team, according to CQC inspectors. The previous year had been particularly challenging due to unexpected changes in both the executive and non-executive members of the board. However, the chair, chief executive and other senior leaders across the trust had worked together to provide continuity.
Members of the leadership team were open about the challenges and believed they were now through this difficult period.
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The trust provided strong leadership following a serious incident of an alleged homicide on Coral ward. Managers took immediate actions to keep patients and staff safe, and longer-term work to investigate and learn from the incident that had taken place. During the inspection, CQC found that nursing leadership had increased at night. Leaders had been very mindful about the psychological wellbeing of patients, carers and staff.
The trust worked effectively in partnership with other stakeholders across north London. It had entered a formal alliance with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Mental Health Trust, which was progressing well. Suitable arrangements were in place to oversee this work.
Kevin Cleary, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector Hospitals Mental Health and Community Services, said: “There is much to be admired about the Good overall service that Camden and Islington NHS Trust provides for those in its care.
“I was impressed by the establishment of the Primary Care Mental Health Networks, which help provide joined up support to people in primary care.
“There are areas where the trust must improve. I am concerned that there has been no improvement in the category of safe. The trust needs to ensure that staff are in a position to provide consistent safe care across all services and we require the senior leadership to ensure this is improving continually.”
Read the full report published on the CQC website here.