The Adults and Cultural Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 1 June 2026 to review updates on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) improvement plan, performance reports for the 2025/26 financial year, and to receive an introduction to new cultural services joining the department. The meeting's agenda focused on assessing the progress of adult social care services and cultural provisions within Leicestershire.

Care Quality Commission Assessment 2025, Improvement Plan Delivery Update

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the progress of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. This plan was developed following the CQC's assessment in September 2025, which rated Leicestershire's adult social care services as Requires Improvement. The report was intended to provide an update on the actions being taken to address the identified areas for development, prior to a submission to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The update was expected to cover various aspects of service delivery, including:

• Timeliness of Assessments and Reviews: Progress on reducing waiting times for Care Act assessments, carer assessments, financial assessments, and occupational therapy assessments was scheduled to be discussed. Efforts to improve the completion rate of annual reviews for service users were also on the agenda.
• Access, Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG): Plans to enhance the accessibility of information through updated website content, potential chatbot implementation, and the provision of printed materials were to be reviewed.
• Reablement and Hospital Discharge: Updates on expanding reablement capacity and improving processes for safe and timely hospital discharges were anticipated.
• Carer Support: The ongoing consultation for the Draft Carers Strategy 2026-2030 and the development of a new carers' support service offer were to be presented.
• Sufficiency of Provider Services: Information regarding the re-commissioning of Community Life Choices Day services and developments in Extra Care accommodation were scheduled for discussion.
• Safeguarding: Developments in the safeguarding referral process and improvements in data collection and performance monitoring for safeguarding activities were to be reported.
• Pathway for Adulthood: Progress on enhancing the transition process for young people moving from children's services to adult social care was to be outlined.
• Workforce: Updates on the finalisation of the Adult Social Care Workforce Plan, a review of case complexity, and the establishment of new employee engagement and audit assurance groups were expected.
• Partnerships in Joint Funding: The report was to cover work with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) on joint funding processes, including the determination of Funded Nursing Care (FNC) placements.

The report also detailed the CQC's updated assessment approach, which places greater emphasis on people's outcomes and experiences, including those of unpaid carers. It outlined the characteristics of local authorities that have achieved outstanding and good assessment ratings, which were intended to inform future improvements.

Performance Report 2025/26 - Position at March 2026

This report provided a comprehensive overview of the Adults and Cultural Services Department's performance for the 2025/26 financial year, up to March 2026. The performance figures were presented in alignment with the Council's strategic plan and the national Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF).

Key areas of performance scheduled for discussion included:

• Adult Social Care:

  • The number of new contacts received for adult social care services.
  • The proportion of adults with a learning disability living in their own homes.
  • The timeliness of Care Act assessments, with a focus on reducing waiting lists.
  • The effectiveness of reablement services, measured by the proportion of people requiring no ongoing support and those living in the community after hospital discharge.
  • Admissions to residential or nursing care homes for both younger adults and those aged 65 and over, with comparisons to national rates.
  • The use of direct payments for long-term community-based care.
  • Outcomes from statutory surveys of people receiving social care services and carers.
  • The number of safeguarding alerts and enquiries, and the proportion where identified risks were reduced or removed.
  • The percentage of service users receiving an annual review of their care plans.

• Culture Leicestershire:

  • Visits to heritage sites and council-managed libraries.
  • The number of library loans, including e-loans and junior loans.
  • Hours of volunteering at libraries, museums, and heritage services.
  • Attendances at Creative Learning Service workshops.

• Adult Learning Service:

  • The success rate of learning aims completed by the Leicestershire Adult Learning Service (LALS).

The report noted that the performance figures for 2025/26 were provisional, with final figures expected to be published later in the year.

Cultural Services

This item was intended to introduce the Committee to three new service areas that had moved into the Adults and Cultural Services Department from May 2026: Country Parks, Beaumanor Hall and Park, and the Century Theatre. The report aimed to provide an overview of these services and seek guidance on any further information the Committee might require.

• Country Parks: The report was expected to detail Leicestershire County Council's network of 18 parks and open spaces, highlighting six destination parks and other smaller parks, woodlands, and recreational areas. It would outline the strategic importance of these parks to the Council's climate, biodiversity, health, and community agendas, referencing the Country Parks and Open Spaces Strategy 2019 – 2029.
• Beaumanor Hall and Park: Information was to be provided on the history and current functions of Beaumanor Hall as a conference, wedding, and civic events venue, as well as its role as a Registration Office. The report would also describe Beaumanor Park as an outdoor education centre offering various activities and its use by schools and uniformed organisations.
• Century Theatre: The report was to introduce the Century Theatre as a small community theatre operating as a receiving theatre, showcasing live music, theatre, comedy, dance, and film. Its facilities, programming, community engagement activities, and staffing structure were to be outlined.

The report also referenced the Country Parks and Open Spaces Strategy 2019-2029 and the Future of Beaumanor Hall and Park Cabinet report from July 2025.