The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded the rating for leadership at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust from requires improvement to good, following an inspection in February.
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust provides services for autistic people, people with a learning disability, and people needing mental health support across Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas.
CQC carried out this inspection as part of its continual checks on the safety and quality of healthcare services.
CQC currently gives NHS trusts a single trust-level rating focusing on leadership and culture that replaces all other ratings at that level. CQC consulted on this approach and will use the feedback gathered to consider whether this well-led key question at NHS trust level is appropriate for the new innovative, complex and integrated models of care being created.
CQC previously rated how well-led the trust is as requires improvement in an inspection using its previous methodology for trust ratings.
Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of mental health in the north-west, said:
“During our well-led inspection of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, we found the trust’s board and leadership team had an appropriate mix of skills and experience who worked with honesty, integrity and openness. Leaders were inclusive, compassionate and focused on continuous improvement.
“We saw leaders undertaking regular visits and walk rounds of frontline services which improved their visibility to staff at all levels and ensured they were aware of any issues and challenges.
“People spoke highly of how services were led in a recent family and friends survey where 88% of people rated their care as good or very good. Feedback consistently highlighted staff who were empathetic, patient, non-judgmental and treated them with dignity and respect.
“Also, leaders ensured people with specialist needs were understood and listened to, and we saw carers and people with lived experience working with ward staff on a development day to offer advice.
“There were also areas leaders must improve to ensure staff feel safe and supported. Feedback from medical consultants, nurses, health care assistants, and ethnically minoritised groups reported under resourced staffing as well as increased incidents of violence and aggression from people using services. Leaders were working to improve staffing numbers and all nursing posts were filled and recruitment was underway for other roles.
“Leaders and staff should be pleased with the positive findings in our report, and we look forward to seeing their continued progress. We have also told leaders where we expect to see improvements and we will continue to monitor them, including through future inspections, to ensure these are made and the existing progress is embedded and sustained.”
Anthony Hassall, chief executive of Pennine Care NHS, said: “We are proud to be rated good for well-led. This is a shared achievement and reflects the commitment, compassion and professionalism of our colleagues, the voices of our patients and carers, and the strength of our partnerships across Greater Manchester.”
