Pennine Care NHS rated ‘Good’ by CQC

Anthony and Claudette CQC

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust has been rated good for well-led by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), recognising improvements in leadership and culture across the organisation.

The rating follows an inspection in February 2026, with inspectors highlighting a strong and compassionate leadership team, a clear strategic direction, and a culture focused on learning, improvement and collaboration. Pennine Care NHS provides mental health, learning disability and autism services to people living across Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of mental health in the north-west, said: “During our well-led inspection, we found the trust’s board and leadership team had an appropriate mix of skills and experience and worked with honesty, integrity and openness. Leaders were inclusive, compassionate and focused on continuous improvement.

“We saw leaders undertaking regular visits to frontline services, improving their visibility and ensuring they understood the challenges staff face. Leaders and staff should be pleased with the positive findings in our report, and we look forward to seeing their continued progress.”

The extensive review included detailed analysis of information and data over the previous 12 months, alongside observing meetings and carrying out interviews and focus groups with trade union leads, staff network leads, governors, and patient and carer groups.

Feedback from people who use services was largely positive, with 88% rating their care as good or very good. People described feeling supported, understood and reassured, and highlighted the compassion, dignity and respect shown by staff. Care was often described as personalised and responsive to individual needs.

The report also recognises the Trust’s strong partnerships across Greater Manchester and its focus on listening to patients, carers and colleagues, with lived experience helping to shape services and drive improvement.

Anthony Hassall, chief executive of Pennine Care NHS, said: “We are proud to be rated good for well-led. This is a shared achievement and reflects the commitment, compassion and professionalism of our colleagues, the voices of our patients and carers, and the strength of our partnerships across Greater Manchester.”

The CQC identified areas where further improvements are needed, including strengthening care planning and workforce support, as well as addressing pressures such as staffing and variation in experience across services.

The Trust has already put in place a comprehensive improvement programme to respond to these findings and continues to focus on delivering safe, high-quality, person-centred care.

The report will be published on CQC’s website.

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