Ian Trenholm to Step Down as CEO of the CQC
Ian Trenholm is set to step down from his role as Chief Executive and board member of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the end of the month. During his six-year tenure, Trenholm has overseen significant changes aimed at improving care and ensuring safety within the organisation.
Kate Terroni, currently serving as the CQC’s Deputy Chief Executive, will take over as interim CEO until a permanent appointment is made.
Reflecting on his time at the CQC, Trenholm said, “During my six years leading CQC, we have made important changes to the way we work in order to help improve care and keep people safe. We are now in the final stages of delivering an ambitious transformation programme – this month saw the delivery of the last big milestone in a complex and challenging programme of work.”
Trenholm added, “While there will always be more work to do, the conclusion of this stage of the transformation feels like a good time to move on. It has been a privilege to work with such a passionate, committed and talented group of colleagues. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am confident that the organisation will continue to evolve to help support the health and care system to provide good, safe care for people.”
CQC Chair Ian Dilks expressed gratitude for Trenholm’s contributions, saying, “The board would like to thank Ian for his contribution to CQC over many years and for leading us towards our ambition of being a smarter and better regulator. I and my board of colleagues look forward to supporting and working with Kate in the further development of CQC.”
Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, also acknowledged Trenholm’s efforts, noting the collaborative work over recent months to address members’ concerns regarding the CQC’s new single assessment framework. Green stated, “While ours and the CQC’s collective goal remains ensuring that high-quality care, support and information are provided to people who use health and social care services; the sentiment within the sector reflects significant apprehension and unease regarding the challenges posed by the new framework.”
He emphasised the importance of the recent ministerial review of the CQC inspection regime, calling it “a crucial first step towards progress” but underscoring the need for “urgent decisive action from the next chief executive” for meaningful change.
As Trenholm prepares to leave, the focus now shifts to Kate Terroni and the future leadership of the CQC in continuing the work towards improving health and social care services across the nation.