The Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission of Leicester City Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning adult social care services. Key topics scheduled for consideration included the Care Quality Commission's inspection report for the Leicester City Council 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 reports for 2026/27.

Leicester City Council Reablement Service: Care Quality Commission Inspection

The commission was scheduled to receive and consider the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection report for the Leicester City Council Reablement Service. This service, which provides domiciliary care, was inspected in December 2025 and received an overall rating of 'Outstanding'. The report detailed findings across five key areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. Four of these areas were rated 'Outstanding', with one rated 'Good'. The report highlighted the service's collaborative approach with health and social care partners, its commitment to continuous learning and improvement, and the positive experiences of people who had used the service. The report recommended that the commission note the CQC report and commend the efforts of the staff and managers involved.

Social Isolation and Loneliness

A report was presented outlining the approaches used by the Department of Adult Social Care to address social isolation and loneliness, which significantly impact physical health, mental wellbeing, and demand for social care services. The report 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 department's strategies include interventions through the Enablement team, a strength-based approach in assessments, asset-based commissioning, and the 'Leading Better Lives' programme. Additionally, a task and finish group has been established to address social isolation for people with severe mental illness (SMI), complementing the Health and Wellbeing Strategy's priority to reduce social isolation in older people and adults.

Equality and Diversity Development

The Social Care and Education Department's improvement ambitions for equality and diversity for the 2026-27 year were set out. These ambitions are integrated across fourteen priority areas, with a specific focus on developing a maturity matrix for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work. The department has engaged in a department-wide consultation with staff to understand what changes would make it the best version of an anti-discriminatory and anti-racist organisation. The findings from this consultation, along with existing audit tools, will inform a tailored maturity model and a prioritised action plan. Key initiatives include reinforcing core beliefs and values, mandatory training for managers on active bystander intervention, unconscious bias, and reasonable adjustments, and the development of a community of practice focused on anti-racist practice. The department also aims to ensure representative inspection teams and will deliver a 'Diverse By Design' workforce and communities baseline assessment.

Annual Report 2024/25: Adult Social Care Complaints and Commendations

The commission was provided with the Annual Report for 2024/25 detailing Adult Social Care's (ASC) statutory, corporate, Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman complaints, and commendations. The report indicated that 68 formal statutory complaints were concluded, with 29% upheld and 15% partially upheld. The most frequent complaint reasons related to aspects of care support and assessment, challenging practice decisions, and lack of communication. The report also noted the conclusion of nineteen Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) enquiries, with a 71% upheld rate for Leicester City's ASC complaints, compared to the national average of 79%. The department received 160 commendations, reflecting positive service delivery. The report highlighted learning and actions taken in response to complaints, including staff training and process reviews, and noted that improvements in areas such as carer experience, waiting times, and safeguarding are expected to positively impact common complaint themes.

SCE Priorities and Performance Reports 2026/27

A presentation was scheduled to outline the fourteen agreed priorities for the Social Care and Education (SCE) department for the 2026/27 financial year, alongside performance ambitions. These priorities include delivering on improvement plans following various inspections (Ofsted ILACS, CQC, HMIP Youth Justice, Area SEND), developing the 'Leading Better Lives' programme, establishing locality Family Help teams and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams, and maintaining financial grip. Other priorities focus on developing an EDI maturity matrix, ensuring school place sufficiency and a SEND Capital Programme, creating strategies for children's residential provision and adult supported living, developing a performance culture, establishing a consistent quality assurance methodology, and leveraging technology including AI tools. The presentation also detailed performance ambitions for adult social care, focusing on reducing waiting times for assessments and reviews, increasing uptake of direct payments, improving accessibility of information, strengthening prevention and early intervention, and enhancing safeguarding processes. Performance ambitions for Children's Services were also outlined, covering areas such as looked-after children, children subject to child protection plans, attainment, SEND, and the quality of social work practice.

Work Programme

The commission was invited to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items. The work programme for the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission for 2025-2026 included items such as updates on CQC reports, engagement on dementia, quarterly performance updates, and the 'Leading Better Lives' initiative. Future suggested items for the work programme included topics such as neurodiversity, carers' support, supported housing, and agency rates.