CQC rates community mental health services in Northumbria as Outstanding

Published: 2 August 2017 Page last updated: 3 November 2022
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England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated the community mental health services for people with a learning disability provided by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as Outstanding following an inspection in April this year.

These mental health services, which are provided across North Tyneside and Northumberland, were not rated during the trust’s comprehensive inspection in November 2015, and the trust remains rated as Outstanding overall.

Dr Paul Lelliott, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (and CQC lead for mental health), said:

“Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides community mental health services for people with a learning disability across North Tyneside and Northumberland.

“It is clear they are providing a safe, effective and caring service and CQC are pleased to be able to rate the quality of these services as Outstanding.

“We saw an holistic approach to all elements of people’s care. It starts with the assessment and planning of people’s care right through delivery to the time when the patient is discharged or makes the transition to other services. We found that people’s individual needs were central to every decision made.

“It is clear that staff that were proud to work at the trust. They spoke highly about the management and culture at the trust and this was clearly reflected in the positive things that people told us about these services.

Some of the findings from the report included:

  • There was a genuinely open culture where staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities for reporting incidents. Incidents were reviewed and investigated by managers to see what could be done to minimise the risk of it happening again.
  • The service had a proactive approach to anticipate and head off potential problems including low staffing levels and staff absence.
  • The service used innovative approaches to deliver care and treatment.
  • The service ensured that patients’ emotional and social needs were valued and listened to.

Ends

For media enquiries, contact Kerri James Regional Engagement Officer on kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or 07464 92 9966.

Alternatively call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters). For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.

We saw an holistic approach to all elements of people’s care.

Dr Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.