The Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet on 4 November 2025 to discuss the Care Quality Commission assessment of Lambeth Adult Social Care, the annual compliments and complaints report, the annual safeguarding report, and the committee's work programme. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the committee to review and discuss these important issues, and to make recommendations for future action.

Care Quality Commission Assessment

The sub-committee will be presented with an overview of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of Lambeth Adult Social Care (ASC). The report pack includes the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee Report - CQC Assessment_Nov25 003 - FINAL, which summarises the self-assessment submitted as part of the assessment framework.

The CQC is responsible for assessing local authority adult social care services' performance against duties outlined in the Care Act 2014¹. The CQC uses nine quality statements, organised by four themes, to assess local authority performance. The four themes are:

• Working with people
• Providing support
• Ensuring safety
• Leadership

The CQC commenced its assessment of Lambeth ASC on 12 May 2025. The assessment process included Lambeth providing evidence, the CQC undertaking case tracking, and meetings with senior leadership. A site visit took place in October 2025, where assessors spoke to frontline staff, senior managers, partners, care providers, and people with experience of services. The CQC will publish an assessment report, expected in spring 2026, which will include an overall score and a single-word judgement (outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate).

Lambeth ASC has undertaken preparations for the assessment, including a mock inspection, a peer review with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and Local Government Association training sessions for frontline staff. The Lambeth ASC Self-Assessment Executive Summary - 2025_External outlines the council's overview of its performance, key strengths, and plans to improve services. The report identifies key strengths such as a track record of meeting diverse care and support needs, a hospital discharge pathway, and a clear practice model. Plans for improvement include encouraging the use of direct payments and reviewing the reablement model.

Annual Compliments and Complaints Report

The sub-committee will review the Adult Social Care Compliments and Complaints Annual Report 2024-25 - FINAL. The report outlines the number of compliments and complaints that Adult Social Care (ASC) received during 2024/2025, what they were about, and how ASC responded.

In 2024/25, Lambeth ASC received 77 stage 1 complaints and 61 compliments. The 77 stage 1 complaints represent 1.6% of the total number of people supported by Adult Social Care, down from 2% in the previous year. The two highest areas of complaint related to service delivery or quality (49%) and financial issues (22%). The 61 compliments represent 1.3% of the total number of people supported by Adult Social Care, an increase from the previous year. The two main areas that the compliments related to were service delivery/quality (51%) and staff conduct/professionalism (46%).

The report also provides examples of compliments and complaints, such as a complaint from the executor of a will regarding unpaid care costs and a compliment from a service user expressing gratitude for support in ensuring their uncle's well-being.

The report notes that of the complaints made to ASC, 13 were escalated to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). Three cases were investigated and upheld, relating to failures to complete an appropriate care assessment and care plan, delays in respite care provision, and a failure to clearly inform a complainant whether care home fees included the Funded Nursing Care² contribution.

Annual Safeguarding Report

The sub-committee will discuss the ASCH Scrutiny sub committee 04 November 2025 LSAB Annual Report 24-25 - FINAL, which outlines the work and achievements of the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB) in 2024-25. The report also highlights the board's strategic plans covering 2023-26 and its plans moving forward, which are closely linked to Lambeth's Borough Plan (2030).

The Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25 details how the partnership has grown in maturity and confidence as they have worked together to deliver the ambitions in their strategy. The report brings together stories, achievements, and learning from across the partnership. In 2024-25, Lambeth Adult Social Care processed 1660 safeguarding concerns, with 31% converting to S42 Safeguarding Enquiries³. The most common type of abuse recorded was neglect/acts of omission (29%). The report also provides case examples, such as an enquiry initiated after an 84-year-old woman was found to have a pressure sore that had not been reported by her care team.

The report notes that in 2024–25, the most common location of risk identified in concluded Section 42 enquiries was the adult's own home, accounting for 60% of all cases.

Work Programme

The sub-committee will consider and approve the work programme as currently drafted and identify and prioritise matters for future scrutiny of Adult Social Care and Health. The ASCHSSC Work Programme Report - 4 November 2025 i includes the draft work programme and a record of recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings.

The draft work programme includes items for the 4 March 2026 meeting, such as recruitment and retention of the social care workforce, a refresh of the Carers Strategy Action Plan, neighbourhood working, the Care Quality Commission assessment of Lambeth Adult Social Care - Final Report, and the Annual Performance Report. The Appendix B - Action Monitoring Log 2025-26 provides an update on actions arising from previous meetings, such as training for councillors around safeguarding and engagement with groups and organisations on the Sexual Health Strategy.