Mental health trust's leaders need to improve - CQC

A watchdog says leadership needs to improve at an NHS trust at the centre of an inquiry into the deaths of people under the care of mental health services.

In March, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected parts of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

In a report published on Thursday, Victoria Green, the CQC's deputy director of mental health in the East of England, said there seemed to be a "disconnect between senior leaders and front-line service".

EPUT, which provides community health, mental health, and learning disability services, said it was already making improvements.

The CQC's latest findings come after former EPUT boss Paul Scott faced criticism for leaving his role while the trust is under scrutiny.

The Lampard Inquiry is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people treated at NHS-run mental health units in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

It is also looking into the failings of various health bodies, including EPUT.

Chaired by Baroness Lampard, it is the first public inquiry in the UK to focus on mental health deaths.

The CQC inspectors had looked at three of EPUT's services: long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working-age adults; child and adolescent mental health wards; community health inpatient services.

The watchdog issued a warning notice for long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards, although it added EPUT had made some immediate improvements.

Inspectors also visited Ardleigh Ward at Colchester Hospital amid concerns about the "quality and safety" of its care.

The CQC had expressed concerns over high levels of self-harm at the ward after an unannounced visit in June.

Its report said staff had described senior leaders as "disengaged", focused on financial pressures rather than people's outcomes.

Green said there was a "fear" of speaking up.

"When staff don't feel safe to raise concerns, it creates a real risk to people's safety, as there is limited learning to prevent poor care from happening again," she said.

"Leaders were not consistently reporting overdue safety incidents to the board, including cases classified as severe harm or death, some of which had been waiting for review for more than two years."

EPUT interim joint CEO Trevor Smith said: "Whilst we have made improvements, there is more to do to ensure that everyone experiences the best possible care and we are firmly committed to that."

The trust said it had collaborated with patients to "re-design" the care on their wards and had invested in mental health urgent care centres.

The Lampard Inquiry, being held at Arundel House in London, will resume public hearings in October.

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