We were able to talk with people who were using this service as outpatients in the recovery centre as well as inpatients on the four wards we visited. Generally, all the people we spoke with were positive about their experiences at St Pancras Hospital. People told us that staff were reassuring and professional. They said that their treatment at the hospital was helping them get better.

The inspection team included compliance inspectors, a pharmacy inspector, a mental health act commissioner and an expert by experience who carried out an unannounced inspection of St Pancras Hospital on 16th August 2013. We visited 6 wards in total. These were Laffan, Dunkley, Rosewood, Sutherland, Montague and Tredgold.

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.