The Health and Adults Scrutiny Panel are scheduled to meet to discuss the Principal Social Worker's report, the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan, preparations for the Care Quality Commission assessment, and the panel's work programme.

CQC Assessment

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on Salford Adult Social Care's preparation for its Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment from Martin Sexton, Principal Social Worker, Salford Adult Social Care, and Matt Drogan. Adult social care services in England are now subject to CQC assessment, with the focus of the assessment being the service's delivery of its responsibilities under the Care Act 2014.

Salford Adult Social Care submitted its evidence library and self-assessment to the CQC in June 2025, and its site visit is scheduled for the week beginning 3 November 2025. The self-assessment identified a number of areas for improvement, which have been collated into an improvement plan to be implemented over the next two years.

The key areas for improvement that have been identified are:

• A new assessment and support model focused on strengths-based practice¹, making the offer to Salford residents more equitable and inclusive, improving the direct payments offer, improving the offer to carers, and preparing for adult life.
• Strengthening safeguarding.
• Promoting independent living through reablement², equipment and technology.
• Strengths-based commissioning.
• Engagement and co-production.
• Excellence in governance and leadership through change.

The report pack states that each workstream is led by the Director of Adult Social Care, the Heads of Service in Salford Adult Social Care and the Lead Commissioners in Salford City Council. Workstreams have defined outcomes and milestones and are mapped to the CQC themes of working with people, providing support, ensuring safety, and leadership.

Principal Social Worker's Report

The panel is scheduled to discuss the report by Martin Sexton, Principal Social Worker (PSW) for Adults, covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025. The Care and Support Statutory Guidance to the Care Act requires local authorities to identify Principal Social Workers (PSWs) for adults' services.

The report highlights key achievements since 2023, including:

• Introduction of a new vision for Adult Social Care in Salford:

Working with communities and partners so every person can lead fulfilling, healthy, safe, and independent lives.

• Development of a quality assurance process for social care practice.
• Opportunities for professional support for social care staff.
• A new practice forum for Safeguarding lead professionals.
• Ensuring that the human rights of residents are protected by Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards³.
• Training for children's services in the Mental Capacity Act⁴ / Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards.
• Accreditation of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme by Skills for Care.
• Chairing a national webinar on the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court judgement in Cheshire West re: deprivation of liberty.

Adult Social Care Improvement Plan

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan from Matt Drogan. The Adult Social Care (ASC) Improvement Plan has been developed in response to the findings of a self-assessment, and outlines how Salford City Council plans to improve outcomes for the people of Salford.

The improvement plan speaks to the vision for Adult Social Care in Salford, which is committed to working in partnership:

Working with communities and partners so every person can lead fulfilling, healthy, safe and independent lives

The four principles of the improvement plan are: valuing strengths-based principles, promoting choice and control, co-producing solutions together, and connecting and supporting through neighbourhood working.

Monitoring of Recommendations and Actions

The panel will be asked to note the updated recommendations and actions tracker, comment on the reported progress, and agree that the monitoring of recommendations and actions will continue to be a standing item on future agendas.

The report pack states that in June 2025, members reviewed previous scrutiny work undertaken, considered options for improvements and discussed priorities work areas for 2025/26. As part of broader efforts to strengthen governance arrangements across the Council through the Governance 360 Improvement Programme, members requested regular monitoring of previous recommendations and associated actions.

The report pack also states that lessons learnt from recent public interest reports and statutory interventions at other local authorities, including Northamptonshire, Liverpool, Croydon, Thurrock, Slough and Birmingham, has identified weak internal governance, poor decision tracking, and a lack of follow-through as core features.

Work Programme Update

The panel will be asked to note the current status of the panel's 2025/26 work programme, review progress against agreed items, consider any necessary adjustments, and confirm the scrutiny methods to be used for upcoming items.

The statutory guidance for overview and scrutiny was updated in April 2024, and reaffirms the role of overview and scrutiny in holding an authority's decision-makers to account.

Partner Updates

The panel will be provided with the minutes of the Greater Manchester Joint Health Scrutiny Committee held on 15 July 2025. Councillor Irfan Syed is scheduled to be appointed as Vice-Chair for the 2025/26 municipal year. Warren Heppolette, Chief Officer for Strategy Innovation & Population Health, NHS Greater Manchester, presented a report which provided a status overview of key service change proposals.