The Adults and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several reports, including the annual report from the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board, the first quarter performance of the Adults and Communities Department, and the Community Life Choices framework. The committee was also scheduled to discuss museum policies and the Preparation for Adulthood Review.

Preparation for Adulthood Review

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Corporate Preparation for Adulthood Review (CPfAR). The CPfAR is a joint review across Children and Family Services (CFS) and Adults and Communities (A&C), supported by the Council's Transformation Unit. The report pack stated that the committee had requested an update on how points raised in the report were being addressed, at its meeting on 3 March 2025.

The CPfAR aligns with the council's Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) Strategy. The Pathway to Adulthood Project Board is responsible for providing strategic oversight and governance of the project which is sponsored by both the A&C and CFS Departments.

The aim of the CPfAR is to:

• Establish a model that will work with children from birth to adulthood, reducing dependency and maximising independence.
• Identify and understand the full cohort of children that will need to transition through to adult services.
• Establish if the current County Council model is effective for children and young people where they need to transition.
• Understand if the current model delivers good outcomes for children and young people in line with their aspirations.
• Establish if the current model is fit for purpose or are there alternatives that deliver better financial management.
• Establish if the right level of provision is being provided in line with needs and strengths-based practice.
• Establish the demand data and make recommendations for a clear PFA pathways for those children and young people.

The report pack included updates from the Process Mapping, Benchmarking, Commissioning, Data and Finance, Published Information, and Parent/Carer Engagement workstreams.

Performance Report for Quarter 1 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Adults and Communities Department's performance during the first quarter of 2025/26 (April to June 2025).

The report pack stated that the metrics detailed in Appendix A are based on the key performance measures of the Adults and Communities Department for 2025/26 and are reviewed through the annual business planning process to reflect the key priorities of the Department and the Council. The structure of Appendix A is aligned with the Adult and Communities Strategy 2025-2029, 'Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire'. Appendix B outlines the 'layered' model designed to maximise independence – to Prevent, Reduce, Delay and Meet needs.

Appendix A is also structured in line with the Council's Strategic Plan 2022-26, which sets out the Council's overall policy framework approach and is based on five aspirational strategic outcomes: Clean and Green, Great Communities, Improved Opportunities, Strong Economy, Transport, and Infrastructure, and Safe and Well.

The report included performance updates on:

• Adult Social Care
• Culture Leicestershire

Adult Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to receive a summary of the complaints and compliments received in respect of adult social care services commissioned or provided by the Adults and Communities Department during 2024-25.

The report pack noted that the Department has a statutory duty to have a complaints process in place for adult social care. The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 introduced a two-stage process with flexible investigation methods and timescales.

The report pack also stated that under the Complaints' Regulation 13(3), there is a requirement to produce an annual report that reviews the effectiveness of the complaints and compliments procedures and provides a summary of statistical information.

Key points in the report included:

• Complaint volumes decreased during 2024-25 compared to the previous year (317 compared to 369).
• For complaints resolved during 2024-25, the proportion where fault was identified decreased from the previous year (143 complaints or 45%, compared to 190 or 50%).
• During the year, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) assessed or investigated 20 new complaints.
• The LGSCO published Final Decisions on 20 complaints during the year. Fault was found in 12 instances.
• Resolution of complaints has remained steady, with 33% of complaints resolved within 10 working days and 65% resolved within 20 working days.
• Throughout 2024-2025, 92% of cases are responded to within the statutory maximum time allowed (65 working days).
• A total of 38 complaints were referred to a senior manager for review during the year if a complainant remained unhappy with an initial response provided to them.
• The most common complaint theme was around quality of work.
• There have been good examples this year of how systemic learning has been identified and implemented.
• Adult social care services did receive 278 compliments during 2024-25.

Leicestershire County Council Museum Policy Revision and Accreditation

The committee was scheduled to comment on the draft Museum Access Policy 2021-2025 and Collections Development Policy 2021-2025, and to be informed on the Museum Accreditation returns which have been submitted to Arts Council England (ACE).

The report pack stated that the current Museum Access and Collections Development policies expire in November 2025 and are under review, and that the policies are a key requirement of the UK Museum Accreditation Standard.

The County Council has five accredited museum sites: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, 1620s House and Garden at Donington-le-Heath, Charnwood Museum (in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council), Harborough Museum (in partnership with Harborough District Council) and Melton Carnegie Museum.

The Access Policy sets out the County Council's Museum Service commitments to create a culture where people of all backgrounds and experiences feel appreciated and valued, providing access for everyone in terms of its sites, programming and collections.

The Collections Development Policy sets out the vision and purpose for the County Council's Museum Service and how it will deliver against these through its collections, acquisitions, disposals and collections care.

Overview of Community Life Choices (Day Services)

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the provision of the Community Life Choices (CLC) framework, which includes day services and personal assistants.

The report pack stated that the primary purpose of the CLC framework is to enable people to develop and maintain physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills through provision of meaningful activity and to support and maintain the health and wellbeing of carers.

As of June 2025, there are 689 people receiving a service via the CLC framework. The CLC framework currently has 25 providers, and includes a total of 58 different day services and nine personal assistant services.

The CLC framework supports people with a variety of needs, which are categorised into lots:

• Learning Disabilities and/or Autism;
• Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD);
• Physical and Sensory Disabilities;
• Mental Health;
• Older Adults;
• Dementia;
• Personal Assistants.

Expenditure on CLC services purchased directly by the Council in the financial year 2024/25 was £8.6m.

Other items

The agenda also included:

• The minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2025.
• Question Time.
• Questions asked by members under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).
• To advise of any other items which the Chairman has decided to take as urgent elsewhere on the agenda.
• Declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.
• Declarations of the Party Whip in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16.
• Presentation of Petitions under Standing Order 36.
• Date of next meeting.
• Any other items which the Chairman has decided to take as urgent.