The Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission of Leicester City Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss a range of important topics concerning the department's services and performance. Key areas scheduled for review included the Care Quality Commission's inspection report for the Reablement Service, strategies to combat social isolation and loneliness, and the department's equality and diversity development plans for the upcoming year. The commission also reviewed the annual report on adult social care complaints and commendations for 2024/25, and the Social Care and Education department's priorities and performance ambitions for 2026/27.

Leicester City Council Reablement Service: Care Quality Commission Inspection

The commission was scheduled to consider the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection report for the Leicester City Council Reablement Service. This service, which provides domiciliary care and is regulated by the CQC, had previously been rated as 'Good' in 2017. The report detailed the findings of a recent inspection conducted in December 2025, which assessed the service against five key areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. The report indicated that the service had achieved an 'Outstanding' overall rating, with four of the five key areas rated as outstanding and one as good. The report highlighted the service's commitment to continuous learning and improvement, noting that no specific action plan would be developed in response to the inspection findings due to their overwhelmingly positive nature. The commission was recommended to note the report and commend the efforts of the staff and managers.

Social Isolation and Loneliness

A report was presented to provide an overview of the approaches the Department of Adult Social Care utilises to support individuals at risk of social isolation and loneliness. The report highlighted that social isolation, defined as limited social contact, and loneliness, the subjective feeling of disconnection, have significant impacts on physical and mental health, and can increase demand for social care support. It was noted that approximately 30,000 residents in Leicester are estimated to be socially isolated, with higher rates reported among White British residents, LGBTQ+ communities, those economically inactive due to long-term sickness or disability, and residents in social rented accommodation. The report outlined various interventions, including the work of the Enablement team, strength-based social work approaches, supported employment initiatives, and asset-based commissioning. The Leading Better Lives programme, aimed at early action and community connections, and a specific task and finish group focused on severe mental illness (SMI) and social isolation were also detailed. The commission was invited to comment on the ongoing work and suggest further improvements.

Equality and Diversity Development

The commission was scheduled to review a report outlining the Social Care and Education Department's improvement ambitions regarding equality and diversity for the 2026-27 year. This report detailed fourteen priority areas for the department, with a specific focus on developing a maturity matrix for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work and delivering a clear plan for advancement. The department's EDI Action Plan aims to strengthen anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices through staff engagement, organisational self-assessment, capability building, and embedding inclusive values. A key element of this plan is a department-wide consultation with staff to identify areas for change. The report also outlined plans for developing a bespoke maturity model, reinforcing core beliefs and values, strengthening inclusive leadership through training, and developing a community of practice focused on anti-racist practice. The commission was invited to provide comments and recommendations on these plans.

Annual Report 2024/25 Adult Social Care Complaints and Commendations

The commission was provided with the Annual Report for 2024/25, detailing formal complaints, statutory, corporate, and Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman complaints, as well as commendations received by Adult Social Care. The report indicated that 68 formal statutory complaints were concluded during the year, with 29% upheld and 15% partially upheld. The most frequent matters complained about related to aspects of care support and assessment, with the top reasons for complaints being challenging practice decisions, lack of communication, and delays in receiving services. The report also noted the conclusion of nineteen Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman enquiries, with four upheld. The department received 160 commendations, reflecting positive feedback on the services provided. The report detailed learning and actions identified from complaints, and outlined the action plan for 2025/26.

SCE Priorities and Performance Reports 2026/27

A presentation was scheduled to be delivered, outlining the fourteen agreed priorities for the Social Care and Education department for the 2026/27 financial year. Alongside these priorities, performance ambitions were detailed, which will be reported on periodically to track progress. These measures replace previous dashboards and focus on a smaller set of outcome-based measures. The priorities include delivering on improvement plans following various inspections, developing the Leading Better Lives programme, establishing locality Family Help teams, maintaining financial grip, developing an EDI maturity matrix, and ensuring clear strategies for children's residential provision and adult supported living. Other priorities include developing a performance culture, consistent quality assurance methodologies, making technology available to practitioners, reviewing SEND partnership plans, launching a Social Care Academy, refining plans for preparing for adulthood, and preparing for Local Government Reorganisation. The commission was invited to comment on these priorities and the plans for measuring performance ambitions.