We’re proud to share some fantastic news from one of our Forces Wellbeing Collective members. Tom Harrison House has recently been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible standard of care recognised by the regulator.
This achievement reflects not only the exceptional quality of support being delivered, but the deep commitment, expertise, and compassion shown to veterans and their families navigating complex challenges around substance misuse, recovery, and trauma.
A National Benchmark of Excellence
An ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating is rare and signals exceptional performance across multiple dimensions of care. For a specialist veteran service, this recognition places Tom Harrison House among the very best providers nationally.
What ‘Outstanding’ Means
According to the CQC’s assessment framework, an ‘Outstanding’ rating typically reflects:
- Leadership that drives continuous improvement, promotes a positive culture, and ensures the service meets high standards consistently
- Strong, person-centred care that responds to individual needs and preferences
- Exceptional outcomes for people using the service, including evidence of sustained improvements in health, wellbeing and quality of life
- Effective governance and risk management, ensuring quality and safety are prioritised and maintained
- Innovation and learning, with the service going beyond expectations to improve practice and share learning with others
In practical terms, this means that care quality is not just good. It is consistently delivered, thoroughly monitored, and continuously developed in response to evidence, feedback, and outcomes.
The CQC looks at how services perform over time, the strength of internal systems, and most importantly, the real-world experiences and outcomes of people who use the service. Achieving ‘Outstanding’ demonstrates excellence in practice, leadership, and impact.
Why This Matters for Veteran Support
The CQC’s rating highlights several areas of strength at Tom Harrison House:
- Exceptional quality of care, particularly in supporting veterans affected by substance misuse and addiction
- Strong leadership and governance, with clear standards, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement
- Highly person-centred practice, ensuring support is tailored to veterans’ lived experience, trauma history, and individual recovery journeys
- Clear evidence of positive outcomes, including reduced risk, sustained recovery, and consistently strong feedback from service users
These criteria align closely with what the CQC expects for an ‘Outstanding’ service, demonstrating that Tom Harrison House doesn’t just meet statutory standards, but consistently exceeds them in ways that are noticeable and meaningful to those who rely on their support.
Putting Veterans at the Centre of Care
What sets Tom Harrison House apart is its unwavering focus on veteran-specific, trauma-informed support. Many veterans accessing services bring complex needs shaped by service history, transition challenges, and long-standing trauma.
By designing care around these realities, rather than expecting individuals to fit into generic models, Tom Harrison House creates an environment where recovery is possible, sustainable, and dignified.
This approach aligns strongly with wider priorities across the Forces Wellbeing Collective, including early intervention, person-centred pathways, and joined-up support across systems.
A Voice from the Team
“The THH team have worked tirelessly over these past years supporting our beneficiaries to work through their complex challenges with substance misuse and trauma, helping them to find recovery. We are delighted to be rated ‘outstanding’ by CQC, who also acknowledged the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to help our beneficiaries access treatment, especially when securing the necessary funding from a wide range of stakeholders. This outstanding rating has given a real boost to the whole team and we remain fully committed to delivering the most exemplary care and support to the armed forces community.”
– Words from Dougie Dunsmore-Dawson
Why This Matters for the Wider Sector
This ‘Outstanding’ rating is not only a milestone for Tom Harrison House, but a powerful example for the wider Armed Forces wellbeing sector.
It shows what is possible when:
- Specialist knowledge is combined with strong governance
- Lived experience informs service design
- Quality and compassion are treated as inseparable
- Veterans are supported as whole people, not problems to be managed
At a time when demand for specialist mental health, substance misuse, and recovery support continues to grow, this recognition offers reassurance to veterans, families, commissioners, and partners alike.
A Proud Member of the Forces Wellbeing Collective
Tom Harrison House is a valued member of the Forces Wellbeing Collective, and this achievement reflects the strength of practice that exists across our network.
We’re proud to work alongside organisations that set such high standards and contribute to raising quality, consistency, and confidence in veteran-focused services across the region and beyond.
Congratulations
We extend our warmest congratulations to the entire Tom Harrison House team — leadership, practitioners, and peer supporters — whose dedication has led to this outstanding recognition.
Their work continues to change lives, strengthen recovery journeys, and demonstrate what excellent veteran-centred care looks like in practice.
To learn more about Tom Harrison House and their work, visit: https://tomharrisonhouse.org.uk/
Better > Stronger > Together.