Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

We found that Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust was performing at a level which led to a judgement of requires improvement.

When aggregating ratings, our inspection teams follow a set of principles to ensure consistent decisions. The principles will normally apply but will be balanced by inspection teams using their discretion and professional judgement in the light of all of the available evidence.

The inspection of the trust was one of great contrast. The community health services were rated as good with the sexual health services rated as outstanding. The overall rating for caring was outstanding reflecting the individualised care provided in the community dental and sexual health services. The mental health services had three core services that required improvement. These were the acute wards for adults of working age, wards for older people with mental health problems and the community based mental health services for adults of working age.

The area of greatest concern related to safety and responsiveness on the acute wards for adults of working age which were rated as inadequate. There were however significant challenges being faced by the trust at the time of the inspection with pressures across the mental health acute care pathway.