The Adults and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Leicestershire County Council met on Monday, 2 March 2026, to discuss the draft Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030, review national performance benchmarking, and receive an update on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. The committee also considered the Local Government Association's (LGA) report on the Use of Resources in Adult Social Care.

Draft Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030

The committee reviewed the draft Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030, which aims to recognise, value, and support carers in the county. Members endorsed the three proposed priorities: carers being recognised, valued, and listened to; carers being provided with accurate, timely, and relevant information and advice; and carers being supported with their wellbeing and access to services when needed. They highlighted the importance of effective carer flow and clearer information about entitlements and available support, while noting ongoing concerns about funding and access to financial support. The extensive pre-consultation, which involved over 300 carers, was welcomed. Concerns were raised about the geographical coverage of the Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL) contract and the need for carers to have a good quality of life themselves. The Director of Adults and Communities confirmed that adult carers have statutory rights under the Care Act 2014, including assessment and support for eligible needs. Young carers are identified through work with schools and health agencies, ensuring access to assessments and support groups. The Healthwatch representative noted that carers frequently feel unheard and highlighted issues with inconsistent home-care staff, hospital discharge challenges, and the importance of education settings for young carers. Members requested clearer strategy content on the transition to adult support for young people entering higher education or employment. The committee noted the report and the commencement of a public consultation, and their comments will be forwarded to the Cabinet.

National Performance Benchmarking 2024/25 and Performance Report 2025/26 - Position at Quarter 3

The committee received an update on the Adults and Communities Department's performance for the period April to December 2025, alongside national benchmarking for 2024/25. A member queried whether supported living was treated as a permanent home within the performance measures and emphasised the importance of annual reviews, suggesting that increasing already-good review completion levels would strengthen understanding of need and support better resource allocation. Officers acknowledged that some metrics were not comparable with previous years due to national reporting changes and confirmed this would be reviewed for future reporting. The outcomes of reablement services were discussed, with officers explaining that these were tracked through other reporting mechanisms, including the number of people completing reablement with no ongoing long-term services. Members were reminded that annual review performance was monitored daily and discussed monthly with operational leads. The committee noted the report and requested the use of graphical and tabular data in future reports.

Care Quality Commission Assessment 2025 - Improvement Plan Delivery Update

The committee received an update on the progress made in delivering the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Improvement Plan. Members praised the reduction in waiting times and other improvements, and asked how future risk and sustainability had been considered to prevent previous issues from recurring, especially given rising demand. Officers stated that continuous reporting and improvement formed an ongoing process, and that cultural and process changes required accurate data recording. The Director of Adults and Communities highlighted that regular workforce audits were essential and that the resource being reinstated replaced some of what had been removed, alongside additional capacity. The committee noted the update report.

Use of Resources in Adult Social Care

The committee considered the Local Government Association's (LGA) 2024/25 report on 'Use of Resources in Adult Social Care'. The report indicated that Leicestershire's overall spend per adult on adult social care was £500.31, which was 21% below the England average of £632.97. Leicestershire was also identified as the second lowest spending authority among all local authorities on services for people aged 65 and over, and the lowest spending authority for long- and short-term care for 18-64 year olds. The report noted that Leicestershire had a higher proportion of older people in its population and lower levels of deprivation compared to the national average, which could influence spending. The committee noted the LGA's report.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 1 June 2026.