The Health Scrutiny Committee of Manchester City Council met on Thursday 2 July 2026 to discuss the support provided to unpaid carers and the current state of the adult social care market. The committee heard from invited guests and council officers, and made a recommendation to include the Carers Strategy on the agenda for the next meeting.

Unpaid Carers

The committee received an update on the progress made in strengthening support for unpaid carers across Manchester, coordinated through the Carers Manchester model. This model brings together statutory services, health partners, and voluntary and community organisations to provide a more integrated and accessible offer. Key themes included improvements in identifying carers, increased access to support, strengthened partnership working, and ongoing co-production with carers. A new Carers Strategy, developed with over 300 unpaid carers, was highlighted as providing a clear framework for future improvements.

Laura Edwards from Gaddum detailed the services provided, including the Carers Manchester Card, the accredited Carers Manchester Contact Point, and support for new carers. Helen Pearce, a carer with lived experience, spoke about the importance of carer identification, the challenges of social isolation, the need for better engagement from health services, improved respite provision, and the necessity for employers to adopt supportive policies. Saleha Majoo from LMCP shared their organisation's work supporting South Asian carers since 1991, including outreach, research, and cultural awareness training, and highlighted the Muslim Carers Framework.

During discussions, councillors noted that there are at least 37,000 unpaid carers in the city, a figure likely higher due to under-identification. They acknowledged the positive work being done and expressed appreciation for carers. Requests were made for future reports to include comparative data, outcomes, and case studies. Concerns were raised about the need for additional government resources and the importance of wider health services, including GPs and hospitals, being aware of and identifying unpaid carers early. Councillors were encouraged to engage with carer services in their wards to ensure equitable access and culturally appropriate services.

The Strategic Director of Adult Social Services confirmed plans for an awareness campaign to accompany the Carers Strategy, including engagement with the wider health services. He emphasised the unique experience of each carer and the need for a suite of support. Laura Edwards highlighted the Carers Manchester Contact Point's reach, with over 2,600 cases opened and more than 1,400 newly identified carers in 2025/26. The Head of Contracting and Quality assured the committee that commissioned services reflect the city's population, with demographic changes being reviewed. The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care expressed his commitment to bringing the Carers Strategy to the next meeting and launching a dedicated awareness campaign, focusing on respite and isolation.

Decision: The Committee recommended that the Carers Strategy be included on the agenda for the next meeting scheduled for 23 July 2026.

Adult Social Care - Care Market and Commissioning Update

The committee reviewed a report detailing the current position of adult social care commissioning in Manchester, focusing on the quality, safety, and oversight of the external care market. The report indicated that the majority of providers meet expected standards, supported by a robust quality assurance approach. Key strategic frameworks, including the Commissioning Plan (2025–2028), Market Position Statement, and Prevention Strategy, guide the development of a high-quality, sustainable, and resilient care market.

The report highlighted a proactive, intelligence-led approach to oversight, enabling early risk identification and targeted support for providers. While the market is generally stable, a small cohort of higher-risk providers requires enhanced oversight, and challenges persist regarding workforce pressures and the increasing complexity of need. The Council affirmed its commitment to ensuring commissioned services are safe, effective, and of consistently high quality.

During discussions, councillors requested that future reports include outcomes and the impact of commissioned services. Concerns were raised about the perception of reducing care packages and the confidence in care homes rated as 'Requires Improvement' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to implement necessary improvements. The sharing of good practice between care homes was also discussed, as was the level of wages paid to carers. Future reports were requested to provide more detail on workforce data, the number of providers, and CQC data. The committee noted that four providers were subject to Level 3 escalation, indicating significant concerns requiring intensive oversight. The impact of the government ending the recruitment of new care workers from overseas on staff recruitment and retention was also raised. The committee expressed appreciation for all staff delivering care to vulnerable residents.

The Director of Adult Social Care (ASC) Commissioning & Transformation acknowledged the request for outcome examples and explained the new care tender and the trusted assessor model, which fosters closer relationships with home care providers and allows for timely review of care packages. Mula Salama, a social worker, described the trusted assessor model as a collaborative approach that empowers carers and strengthens relationships between providers and social work teams. The Commissioning Manager elaborated on the Manchester-led approach, its positive impact on patient discharge rates, and the benefits of the trusted assessor model, supported by real-time data. The Strategic Director of Adult Social Services addressed concerns about 'Requires Improvement' rated care homes, explaining the CQC's role and the Council's own Quality Assurance Team's work. He also noted that forums exist for shared learning among providers and that wages paid to carers are a national issue, though commissioned providers commit to paying the Real Living Wage. Manchester's grow your own model for recruitment and developing professional qualifications was highlighted. The Head of Contracting and Quality updated that a provider rated 'Good' remained so, and another moved to 'Outstanding'. The Director of ASC Commissioning & Transformation emphasised the importance of the Real Living Wage and work-life balance for frontline staff. The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care highlighted the Local Care Organisation's role, the success of the Reablement Team, and Manchester's leadership in ensuring providers pay the Real Living Wage.

Decision: The Committee noted the report.

Overview Report

The committee reviewed the monthly Overview Report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit, which included the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, and the Committee's work programme. A member noted that with the addition of the Carers Strategy to the agenda for the next meeting, there would be five substantive items. They inquired whether consideration should be given to rescheduling some items to allow adequate time for scrutiny. The Chair stated he would liaise with the Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care to address this.

Decision: The Committee noted the report and agreed the work programme, with the above comments taken into consideration.