The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Southampton Way

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

296-298 Southampton Way, Camberwell, London, SE5 7HQ (020) 7252 6748

Provided and run by:
Equinox Care

All Inspections

3 November 2014

During a routine inspection

This unannounced inspection took place on 3 November 2014. The service was last inspected on 10 December 2013 when we found it met all the regulations we checked at that time.

The service provides care and accommodation for 13 people with mental health needs. Twelve people were using the service when we inspected it. Each person has their own bedsitter accommodation, which includes a bathroom and kitchen facilities. Downstairs the building has a large living/dining room, a kitchen and a staff office. At the time of the inspection, some people were independent and required minimal support from staff, for example, they prepared their own meals. Other people’s needs were more complex and they required more support from staff to prevent a relapse of their mental health condition and to improve their quality of life.

At the time of the inspection the service did not have a registered manager in post but had a manager who was responsible for the day to day operation of the service. This person had been in post for three weeks prior to the inspection. The service should have a registered manager. This is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The provider advised us on 1 December 2014 they do not intend to seek a registered manager for the service as they have plans for major changes to the service from April 2015. Consequently, we are not taking action to ensure the provider appoints a registered manager.

People told us they were happy with the service and liked the staff who they said were caring and helpful. However, we found people were not protected from the risks of poorly maintained premises. Repairs to the premises were not carried out promptly and a number of required improvements to the decor and furnishings had been identified by the current manager of the service.

People did not always receive their medicines safely as prescribed. The provider had a system to audit the quality of the service but had not ensured action was taken to improve the service when problems were identified. Staff had not always accurately recorded whether people had received their medicines or not. A health professional told us the service had a proven track record of promoting people’s health and worked openly and constructively with the Community Mental Health Team. However, full information about some people’s individual needs and interests had not been obtained. Staff could not therefore effectively engage them in activities that met their needs and interests.

We found a number of breaches of the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and the action we have asked the provider to take is detailed at the back of this report.

5 September 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

In response to our previous inspection in April 2013, the provider had put in place a detailed action plan to address concerns we identified in relation to the administration of medicines and the safety and suitability of the premises.

At our inspection on 5 September 2013, we found the provider had made progress in implementing the actions set out in the plan. People were now protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises. However, despite some improvements in the management of medicines, we found continuing non-compliance in this area.

12, 15 April 2013

During a routine inspection

People told us the staff at the home treated them well, were caring and met their support needs. They told us they were fully involved in planning their own care and support and we saw evidence of this in their records. One person said, 'I meet with my key worker and we agree what goes into my support plan.'

In response to our previous inspection in September 2012, the provider had put in place a detailed action plan to address concerns we identified in relation to the safety and suitability of the premises. At our inspection on 12 and 15 April 2013, we found the provider had made progress in implementing the actions set out in the plan. However, some improvements were still outstanding and despite the progress made we found continuing non-compliance in this area.

5 September 2012

During a routine inspection

People told us that the staff at the home were kind and caring and provided them with good care, treatment and support. They liked the food and were able to go out when they wanted. We heard that people were fully involved in planning their own care and support. Staff told us that the training they received equipped them to understand and meet the needs of the people they were supporting.

These views and comments were borne out by most of what we found in our inspection. However, people and staff drew our attention to problems with the maintenance and repair of the home. Consequently, we found that people may be at risk because some areas of the home had not been maintained adequately.