The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to discuss updates on home care and reablement services, and the progress of the Adult Social Care Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. The committee also reviewed the Scrutiny Report, which included the Forward Plan and Action Tracker.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was scheduled to review the Scrutiny Report, which encompasses the Forward Plan and Action Tracker. The Forward Plan outlines the committee's work programme for the upcoming municipal year, and members were invited to suggest additions. The Action Tracker details tasks assigned to officers from previous meetings, with updates on their progress. The report also noted that the Scrutiny team was operating under capacity, which would influence the ability to undertake intensive thematic reviews in the immediate term.

Home Care and Reablement Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on home care and reablement services. The report outlined the current model, the rationale for change, and proposals for future commissioning arrangements. Home-based support is a crucial element of Adult Social Care, aiming to help residents live independently at home. Reablement, a key part of this approach, focuses on helping individuals regain or maintain independence. The report highlighted increasing demand for these services, alongside workforce and market sustainability challenges. Adult Social Care had been working with stakeholders to develop a new integrated, outcomes-focused commissioning model. This proposed model aims to improve resident outcomes, promote independence, support demand management, and strengthen the flow across health and care services. The committee was asked to note the current model, its challenges and opportunities, and to endorse the development of the new commissioning model. The report detailed the proposed framework structure, which includes locality-based home care lots and borough-wide reablement lots, with a focus on a reablement first approach.

Adult Social Care CQC Improvement Plan Update

The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on the Adult Social Care (ASC) Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. Following a CQC inspection that rated Waltham Forest Council's ASC services as 'Good', an action plan was developed to address areas requiring improvement. This plan, refined through engagement with stakeholders including providers, health partners, residents, carers, and staff, focuses on strengthening safeguarding, assessment of need, provision of care and support, safe pathways, systems, and transitions. The report detailed the key activities required under each of the four CQC assurance themes: How Waltham Forest works with people, Providing support, How Waltham Forest ensures safety within the system, and Leadership. The committee was asked to note the engagement undertaken, review progress against the action plan, and provide feedback on the approach, delivery, and proposed measures of success. The report also outlined the metrics developed to evidence progress and demonstrate the impact of the improvement activities, drawing on national and local performance measures.