The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has stated that leadership must improve at the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), which is currently at the center of an inquiry into deaths occurring under mental health services.

Following an inspection in March, the watchdog reported a "disconnect between senior leaders and front-line service." Victoria Green, the CQC's deputy director of mental health in the East of England, noted that staff described leaders as "disengaged" and focused on financial pressures instead of patient outcomes. Green also stated there was a "fear" of speaking up among staff.

The report highlighted several specific issues:

• Leaders did not consistently report overdue safety incidents to the board, including cases involving severe harm or death, some of which had been awaiting review for over two years.
• The CQC issued a warning notice for long-stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working-age adults.
• Inspectors raised concerns regarding the "quality and safety" of care at Ardleigh Ward at Colchester Hospital following reports of high levels of self-harm.

The findings follow scrutiny from the Lampard Inquiry, which is investigating the deaths of more than 2,000 people treated at NHS-run mental health units in Essex between 2000 and 2023. The inquiry is also examining the failings of various health bodies, including EPUT.

"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," Green said.

EPUT interim joint CEO Trevor Smith said the trust is committed to ensuring everyone receives the best possible care. The trust stated it has invested in mental health urgent care centres and worked with patients to re-design ward care. Public hearings for the Lampard Inquiry are scheduled to resume in October.