EPUT, which is among the organisations subject to an inquiry into mental health deaths between 2000 and 2023, was upgraded from inadequate overall to requires improvement.

The inspection focused on acute wards for adults of working age and PICUs across nine wards at: Peter Bruff and Ardleigh wards at Colchester Mental Health Hospital; Chelmer ward at the Derwent Centre; Finchingfield, Galleywood wards and the Christopher Unit at the Linden centre; Cherrydown and Hadleigh wards at Basildon Mental Health Unit; and Cedar ward at Rochford Hospital.

While improvements were found in areas such as care planning, engagement with people using the service and ward cleanliness, more work was needed to address ongoing concerns with medicines safety, staff supervision and management to ensure these improvements were fully embedded and sustained.

Paul Scott, chief executive of EPUT, said: ‘I am pleased that the CQC noted a number of improvements since its previous inspection in 2023.

‘Much progress has been made in partnership with patients, carers and those with lived experience of our services. However, we absolutely recognise there is more to do as we continue to focus on the transformation of our mental health services, embedding a new model of care on our wards that will boost staffing levels and ensure all patients receive consistently high quality, therapeutic care to meet their individual needs.'

The inspection followed the trust's forensic service at Brockfield House, Wickford and Clifton Lodge care home in Westcliff being rated good earlier this year.