The Care Quality Commission
  • Mental Health
  • Independent mental health service

Archived: Keats House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

24-26 St. Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RS (020) 7089 0610

Provided and run by:
The Althea Practice Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile
Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We inspected this service as part of our ongoing comprehensive mental health inspection programme.


To fully understand the experience of people who use services, we always ask the following five questions of every service and provider:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

Before the inspection visit, we reviewed information that we held about the location. This was an announced inspection in line with our methodology.

During the inspection visit, the inspection team:

• Toured the office base which included an administration office, waiting area, shared reception and the psychiatrist’s office

• Reviewed paper records detailing the care and treatment of 10 patients

• Completed telephone interviews with 5 patients

• Reviewed written feedback received from patients

• Reviewed medication prescriptions

• Completed interviews with the consultant psychiatrist and registered manager and medical secretary.

• Looked at a range of data, policies, procedures and other documents.


Our final telephone interview was completed on 29th January 2025.

Outstanding Practice

The service adopted a truly person-centered approach. Consideration of people’s privacy and dignity was embedded into everything the service did. The provider sought patients voice in everything they did. For example, patients preferred if appointments were handwritten rather than using a computer. The service also sought feedback on where patients would like the new office to be based. As patients accessed the service based on their individual preference, there was a strong focus on achieving patient satisfaction, whilst providing a safe service. Patients we spoke with said the care and support they received was excellent. Some patients gave examples where they felt the consultant psychiatrist and staff had gone above and beyond to support them. This included last minute appointments and offering digital appointments.

8 to 14 June 2021

During a routine inspection

We rated the location as good overall because:

  • The service provided safe care. The premises where patients would usually be seen face to face were safe and clean. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service was being delivered virtually at the time of our inspection. The provider had taken steps to ensure this way of working was carried out safely.
  • The number of patients on the consultant psychiatrist’s caseload was well managed. Waiting lists were monitored to ensure that patients were seen promptly when needed. Risks to patients were assessed and managed well, and all staff followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
  • The consultant psychiatrist delivered a holistic, recovery-oriented service. Treatment plans were informed by comprehensive assessments and made in collaboration with patients and their families, when appropriate. The service provided a blended approach, between psychological and pharmacological treatment options. These options were based on best-practice guidance and met patients’ needs. The consultant psychiatrist evaluated and reflected on the quality of care provided to ensure it was delivered to a high standard.
  • The consultant psychiatrist worked alongside the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of the patients. All staff within the service received training, supervision and appraisal. Staff worked well together as a team and with relevant services outside the organisation.
  • The consultant psychiatrist understood their role and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  • A truly person-centred approach was embedded into every aspect of the service. Staff went above and beyond to uphold patient’s privacy and dignity and provide emotional support when they needed it. Patients, families and carers were actively involved in care decisions and spoke very highly of the service. As patients accessed the service based on their individual preference, there was a strong focus on achieving patient satisfaction, whilst following the service’s well-defined, scope of practice.
  • The service was easy to access and patients who required access to the service more urgently were seen promptly. Patients did not wait too long to start treatment if their referral was accepted. The acceptance criteria for new referrals to the service was well defined to ensure the service only accepted patients whose needs it could meet safely.
  • The service was well led. Governance processes and procedures were in place to ensure that the service ran smoothly. Leaders were committed to creating a positive working environment for the staff team.