The Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the application of eligibility criteria for adult social care, processes for assessment, and the committee's work programme. Councillors noted a report summarising the council's approach to applying eligibility criteria in adult social care and the processes for assessment. The committee also approved its work programme, with amendments to include discussion of the Integrated Lifestyle Service and a potential report on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection outcomes.

Application of Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care

The committee reviewed the council's approach to applying eligibility criteria in adult social care and the processes for assessment. The report summarised the statutory requirements for these functions, as defined primarily by the Care Act 2014¹, and the approach taken by the council.

Hayley Eccles, Deputy Director of Adult Social Services, presented the report, emphasising that the Care Act 2014 places a duty on councils to provide information and advice, and that this must be accessible to everyone who needs it. She also noted that the Care Act has core principles that focus on wellbeing and safeguarding the most vulnerable adults in the community.

Ms Eccles outlined the five distinct parts of section 4 of the Care Act 2014, which covers:

• Care and support
• Care standards
• Health
• Health and social care
• General provisions

She explained that councils must provide information on how the social care system works in their area, how to request an assessment, the eligibility criteria, and the review process.

Ms Eccles stated that the assessment process involves discussions with the individual, their carer, or independent advocate, and is usually conducted by a social care professional to understand a person's situation, their strengths, what support they already have in place, and any risks.

The report noted that councils apply national eligibility criteria, in line with the Care Act 2014, to determine if an adult with care and support needs is eligible for services. If eligible, the local authority works with the person to create a care and support plan that focuses on their strengths.

Martin Samuels, Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, added that adult social care is a means-tested service, with the current financial threshold set at £23,250. He noted that this figure has remained fixed in cash terms since 2010, and had it been uprated for inflation, it would now be in the region of £36,000.

The report also highlighted that during the twelve months between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, Lincolnshire County Council received 61,611 total requests for support, with the highest demand being for physical support with personal care.

Councillor Colin Reeve asked why there had been a significant increase in the number of people claiming direct payments². Ms Eccles responded that the council was exploring this issue, and that people are coming out of hospital in far more acute situations than before.

Councillor Jackie Bean asked about the means tested threshold of £23,250, which she stated had not changed since 2010, and that in real terms, with inflation, there was a shortfall of £12,750. She asked what the latest government position was on reviewing this threshold. Mr. Samuels responded that the government had repeatedly stated that they were going to introduce changes, but had stepped back due to the complexity.

Councillor Karen Lee welcomed Ms Eccles to the authority, and stated:

I was really pleased to hear that what you about people being at the heart of what we do because we hear an awful lot of talk about people should help themselves but these services focus on the people who actually can't help themselves and surely that's the mark of a decent society that we look after our vulnerable.

Councillor Lee also raised concerns about the conversion rate from assessment to service provision, and asked if the rate of 21.9% was the lowest it could go, and whether it was an acceptable amount. Mr. Samuels responded that each individual has a different level of need, and therefore the individual may choose to go elsewhere, which would reduce the percentage.

Councillor Marianne Woolley asked if direct payments drives up the quality of the offers that are available, and whether it is high standards or not. Ms Eccles responded that it improves the experience of the individual and improves their outcomes, and that people tend to feel more in control of their life, which has a significant positive impact on the quality of care.

Councillor Maggie Cullen thanked Ms Eccles, and stated that she was found eligible for care, and that she could personally attest to the support that is available.

Councillor Mrs. Marion Overton MBE asked about self-funding, and if somebody runs out of money, and the family are delayed, do the council assess the financial impacts on family, especially if there are delays. Mr. Samuels responded that the threshold applies to the individual, and that it is really important to understand that when adult social care is means tested, it is a deliberate choice that the individual should be in care.

The committee noted the report and thanked officers for their presentation.

Integrated Lifestyle Service Contract Extension

Councillor Steve Clegg, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health, announced that the executive had voted unanimously to approve recommendations on the Integrated Lifestyle Service (ILS), including a thorough consultation process and extending the existing contract by a further 12 months until the end of September 2026.

Councillor Clegg stated that the decision reflected the administration's commitment to ensuring every pound of taxpayers' money is spent wisely and cost effectively, and that the contract extension would allow sufficient time for review and scrutiny. He added that he had instructed officers to ensure that the consultation process obtains views from as many groups as possible, including younger people, families, the frail, and the disadvantaged.

Councillor Lee criticised the decision to extend the contract before it went to scrutiny, and stated that there ought to have been an impact analysis.

Care Quality Commission Inspection

Mr. Samuels informed the committee that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had been running a process of assessment of every local authority in the country for their social care responsibilities. He stated that the council was expecting to have its full inspection shortly, but that nothing had been heard from the CQC.

Mr. Samuels stated that the CQC had announced publicly that they would be informing the last councils, including Lincolnshire, but that they had not yet been contacted. He added that he had checked with his colleagues in the other four authorities, and they similarly had heard nothing.

Councillor Lee asked how this would impact the council. Mr. Samuels responded that it would mean they had a few more days of preparation, and that so long as they are contacted in the next few days, the process simply starts from the point where they contact them.

Adult Care and Public Health Scrutiny Work Programme

Simon Evans, Scrutiny Officer, presented the committee's work programme³, detailing planned items for upcoming meetings. He noted that the item for the 3 December meeting would be removed due to the Executive Director's announcement about the timing of the CQC inspection.

Mr. Evans stated that the next meeting on 28 January would include a pre-decision item on the Integrated Lifestyle Service, leading to a consultation and a decision on the future of the service on 3 February. He also noted that there was a plan on 3 December for the committee to look at the current Integrated Lifestyle Service.

Councillor Lee asked about the meeting on 3 December, and whether it would be a joint meeting with the Health Scrutiny Committee to look at the broader impact of the Integrated Lifestyle Service consultation results. She also asked for assurance that the scrutiny report would include risk assessments and impact analysis.

Mr. Evans responded that the report for the 3 December meeting would focus on the current service, and therefore there would be no proposals for change, and no impact assessment on changes that aren't being proposed. He added that the report would give full information about what the ILS is, what it does, and what it achieves.

Councillor Bean raised a concern about the difficulty a relative had experienced contacting adult services, and asked what methods are currently in place for people to contact adult services, and whether there could be a more consistent approach by staff. Mr. Samuels responded that the council has had a telephone front door for adult social care for many years, and apologised that the service was unsatisfactory in this case.

Councillor Overton stated that when you ring the council, the message you get is one minute forty seconds, and that this is a particular bugbear of hers.

The committee approved the work programme, with amendments to include discussion of the Integrated Lifestyle Service and a potential report on the CQC inspection outcomes.