CQC inspection report confirms that Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust delivers outstanding services

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

NHS staff across Wirral, Cheshire, St Helens and Knowsley were delighted to see their hard work, specialist skills, and above all their care and compassion for local people and families recognised in a recently published CQC report, with many areas described as outstanding.

The report following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, confirms that the Trust delivers outstanding services and across all areas is rated as ‘Good’; a tremendous achievement and recognition of the Trust’s commitment to deliver safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led services.

The CQC inspection included core service inspections of Sexual Health, the Community Intermediate Care Centre (CICC) and Community Services for Adults. A well-led inspection of the whole Trust was also completed as part of the process.

  • The Community Intermediate Care Centre (CICC), established at the height of the pandemic was rated as Good in all areas. Particular acknowledgement was given for how the centre had grown and evolved, always delivering care and compassion and an overall positive patient experience.
  • Community Health Services for Adults (including community and specialist nursing) was rated Outstanding for the care they provide to patients and their families.
  • The Sexual Health Service improved from Requires Improvement to being an Outstanding service.

Karen Howell OBE, Chief Executive at the Trust said:

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“This report highlights the pivotal role that community health and care services play in supporting the people we serve across Cheshire and Merseyside to live well and independently, and I am immensely proud of the outstanding care our teams deliver every day in the community. It is the greatest endorsement of our staff that we have been recognised as a Trust that treats our patients with dignity and with respect. Our patients feel safe, included and listened to and our staff are proud to work for this organisation. I am absolutely delighted that the professionalism, dedication and expertise shown by our staff and their passion to deliver outstanding care has been recognised by the CQC”.

Among the many positive findings the inspectors noted that:

  • Staff across the organisation felt respected, supported and valued. They remained focussed on the needs of people receiving care. Staff felt listened to and able to raise concerns if needed.
  • The board and senior leadership team had clear vision and values that were at the heart of all the work within the organisation. They worked hard to make sure staff at all levels understood them in relation to their daily roles.
  • The trust made sure that it included and communicated effectively with people, staff, the public, and local organisations.
  • The trust was committed to improving services by learning from when things go well and when they go wrong, promoting training, research and innovation.
  • People and those close to them understood their care and treatment; and staff supported people to make decisions about their care.
  • Staff made sure people living with mental health problems, learning disabilities and dementia, received the necessary care to meet all their needs.
  • Leaders recognised the training needs of managers at all levels, including themselves, and worked to provide development opportunities for the future of the organisation.

Karen Knapton, CQC Deputy Director of Operations for the North, said: 

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“When we visited Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, it was fantastic to see the significant improvements that have been made across the trust and to see leaders took on board feedback from our previous inspection.

“Leaders were committed, and we found the trust board and senior leadership team displayed integrity. They were efficient decision makers and welcomed challenges to ideas and the input of staff expertise.

“We found some outstanding practice in the community health services for adults and the sexual health service where we received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the way staff treated people.

The team at Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust should be proud of these findings”.

Professor Michael Brown CBE DL, Trust Chair said:

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“Excellent community health and care is incredibly important to the future sustainability of the NHS, and it is right to shine a spotlight on the primary, community and public health services we provide, 365 days a year. We touch the lives of thousands of people every day, from birth, right through to end of life.

“This report reflects the focus that our staff have on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff are proud to work for this organisation and strive to improve every day by truly understanding the people in their care. Our commitment to our values of compassion, open and trust have been recognised”.

Paula Simpson, Chief Nurse at the Trust said: 

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“Our community staff have diverse and highly specialist clinical skills, working with people in their own homes and always placing the best interests of those they support at the centre of everything they do. This report acknowledges how our staff go above and beyond every day to deliver inclusive and effective services. I am immensely proud of the work we do and of all my amazing colleagues.”

Graham Urwin, Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:

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“I am delighted with Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust’s improved CQC rating which reflects the positive changes they have made.

“It is also really pleasing to see that the CQC noted the commitment from the Trust’s leaders and their willingness to take on board challenges and ideas from staff. This is all part of our overall ambition to continuously make improvements to services across Cheshire and Merseyside and we are proud of the work our partners are doing to ensure the best possible outcomes for our population”.

Sam Sherrington, National Deputy Director Community Nursing said: 

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“I am very proud of the Community Adults Services at the Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and the outcome of the recent CQC report which recognised the service as being Outstanding in caring. I have witnessed first-hand the commitment of the teams in Wirral to the people, families and communities in their care.

“It is an enormous responsibility and privilege to be a guest in someone’s home.  The community nursing teams at the Trust, and their leaders, go above and beyond to ensure their patients receive the expert care they need in a place they choose”.

The CQC report is available on the CQC website.