Decision

RESOLVED: Cabinet;

•         Approved the CQC Improvement Plan

•         Noted that the Council will submit the CQC Improvement Plan to DHSC by the 24th April 2026. 

REASONS RESOLVED:

1)     The recommendations are presented to Cabinet to enable the Council to formally adopt the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan and progress the necessary actions arising from the recent local authority assessment. The inspection concluded that West Northamptonshire Council “requires improvement” with an overall rating of 59%, highlighting both areas of strong practice and several critical challenges that require a coordinated improvement response.

2)     The Improvement Plan provides a structured framework to address waiting times, capacity pressures, data quality issues, and variations in access and experience across different communities. It also responds directly to the CQC findings relating to leadership stability, safeguarding timeliness, and inequalities in provision, ensuring that statutory Care Act duties are met consistently and sustainably.

3)     Approval of the plan will ensure the Council is positioned to meet the DHSC requirement to submit an approved plan by 24 April 2026. It also provides a transparent and accountable basis for ongoing improvement activity, aligned with the Adult Social Care Sustainability Plan and wider Council programmes, including SEND and Preparation for Adulthood.

4)     The recommendations therefore ensure that the Council delivers a credible, coproduced and evidence based approach to strengthening adult social care performance, improving outcomes for residents, and mitigating strategic risks linked to statutory compliance.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The CQC report identified several systemic issues which must be addressed to improve service quality and ensure compliance with statutory duties.