Care Quality Commission lifts safety notice for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

The Care Quality Commission has lifted the safety notice issued to Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s community services last year, after inspectors confirmed that the trust had delivered improvements across its community mental health teams.

The decision comes after several months of intensive work led by the trust’s community teams and supported by staff across the organisation. Inspectors recognised that notable improvements had been addressed, and that no further enforcement action was required.

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust praised staff across the trust for their commitment and determination, saying:

“This is fantastic news for our patients and communities, and a real milestone in our journey of improvement. Since I joined the trust as chief executive, we have been working hard to strengthen the safety, consistency and quality of our care, and it is encouraging to see the changes we’ve put in place starting to make a real difference for the people who rely on us. 

“I want to thank our staff for responding so quickly and so thoughtfully to the concerns raised last year. Their willingness to learn, lead and act — always with patients front and centre — has been critical in getting us to this point.” 

During recent inspections, the CQC recognised stronger that better handovers, clearer recordkeeping and care planning was in place and there was more consistent oversight across community services. 

Sheila added: “The removal of the safety notice shows just how far we have come as a trust, but it is not the end of the journey. Our patients deserve the very best, and we will continue building on this progress through our improvement and quality plans. My focus, and the focus of every leader across the trust, remains on delivering safe, compassionate and reliable care for every person who needs our support.”