Inspectors visited wards at Colchester Mental Health Hospital, Derwent Centre in Harlow, Linden Centre in Chelmsford, Basildon Mental Health Unit and Rochford Hospital.
Improvements were found in areas such as care planning, engagement with people who use the service and ward cleanliness.
The CQC said there was enough regular staff on wards including psychology staff and physical health nurses across the locations.
It added: “Leaders had taken action to improve the organisational culture, particularly around equality, diversity and inclusion, and prioritised the reporting of racial abuse against staff, an area previously identified as a concern.”