The Interim Director of Adult Social Care provided a verbal
update as follows:
- The
Board received an update on the outcome of the Care Quality Commission
(CQC) Assurance Assessment of Adult Social Care services, which reviewed
compliance with duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014.
- Members
noted that the assessment process included a self-assessment, review of
performance data, and engagement with residents,
carers, staff and system partners.
- The
Board was advised that the final report had been published on 18 June 2026
and that the overall outcome was "Requires Improvement".
- Members
noted that the authority score was towards the upper end of the
"Requires Improvement" range and that the findings broadly
reflected the Council’s own assessment of its performance, with no
significant unexpected issues identified.
- The
assessment highlighted strengths including prevention and early intervention
arrangements, progress through the transformation programme, improvements
in assessment waiting times, Good ratings for safeguarding
and leadership and governance, market shaping and innovation,
workforce culture, and improved use of performance information.
- Members
noted areas requiring further development, including sustaining
improvements in assessment timeliness, improving access to reablement and
intermediate care services, reducing inconsistencies in service experience,
improving access to advocacy and interpreter support, strengthening
support for unpaid carers, demonstrating the impact of partnership working
more clearly, and ensuring governance arrangements translate into positive
outcomes for residents.
- The
Board noted the findings of the report and the programme of improvement
work that would be taken forward in response to the assessment outcome.
- The Chair acknowledged that, whilst the overall outcome of the CQC Assurance
Assessment was not the rating that had been sought, the findings
reflected areas already recognised by the Council and aligned with
existing improvement activity.
- Members
noted that a range of strategies and action plans were already in place to
support improvement across Adult Social Care, including work relating to
extra care housing, day opportunities, prevention, carers,
workforce development and transformation.
- It
was noted that the assessment recognised progress in a number
of areas and that several findings related to the need
to demonstrate sustained improvement over a longer period rather
than the absence of improvement activity.
- Members
expressed confidence that the existing improvement programme
provided a strong foundation for securing a higher rating at a
future assessment.
- Members
noted that an initial response had been submitted to
the Care Quality Commission and that a detailed improvement plan would be developed
in response to the findings of the report.
- The
Board recognised the value of external assurance
in identifying strengths and improvement opportunities and noted
that the process supported ongoing service improvement for residents.
- Members
highlighted the significant contribution made by staff throughout the
assessment process and welcomed the positive way in which the findings had
been received across Adult Social Care services.
- It
was noted that many of the findings recognised good practice but identified a
need for improvements to become more consistently embedded across
services.
- Members
welcomed the balanced media coverage following publication of the report
and noted the importance of recognising strengths alongside areas
requiring further development.
- The
Board agreed that staff should be encouraged to take pride in the positive
aspects identified within the report
while maintaining focus on the improvement journey ahead.
- Officers advised that
the improvement plan would be developed within approximately three months
of publication of the report.
- The
Board noted that the CQC would undertake annual conversations with the
Council and that a further comprehensive assessment could be expected
within three years of publication of the report.