\n The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the service, which provides mental health, community and disability support for around two million people, in October and November 2025.\n<\/p>\n
\n Inspectors found some staff in mental health acute services ‘felt safety concerns were overlooked by leaders’ and ‘unsafe admissions were affecting the wellbeing of staff’ and others on the wards.\n<\/p>\n
\n The CQC also found need for improvement in equality, diversity and inclusion and detailed negative experiences of staff with protected characteristics, including race and disability, applying for promotion.\n<\/p>\n
\n The inspection was the first since the trust was formed from four former trusts in October 2024.\n<\/p>\n
\n Serena Coleman, CQC deputy director of mental health in the South, said the trust had ‘undertaken significant work’ but some ‘cultural and governance aspects’ hadn’t fully embedded, impacting staff morale.\n<\/p>\n
\n She said: “Staff\u00a0told us\u00a0leaders\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0visible and described a disconnect between clinical and non-clinical staff.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It was concerning that\u00a0almost 20 per cent of staff said they\u00a0would be reluctant to raise concerns because they didn\u2019t\u00a0think their concerns would be acted upon or\u00a0they\u00a0felt\u00a0there would be retribution.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “When staff\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0feel safe to speak up, risks can go unaddressed and the quality of care can suffer so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0vital the trust tackles\u00a0this.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Coleman said systems at the trust were still in development and this was creating risks in some cases – including information from safety incidents not being shared quickly and the usage of ‘incompatible electronic systems’, risking loss of information.\n<\/p>\n
\n Inspectors also found positives in the visit, including ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback about staff, good work with partner organisations and a commitment to learning and innovation.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Coleman said the CQC found leaders ‘demonstrated a genuine commitment to compassionate and collaborative leadership’ and had shared the findings with leadership, who understand the improvements required.\n<\/p>\n
\n The inspectorate will continue to monitor progress and will return to assess the changes made.\n<\/p>\n