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.