The Adult Social Care, Health and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to meet on Monday 9 March 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Care Quality Commission's inspection outcomes for the council's Adult Social Care function and a review of the committee's work programme.

Outcomes of the Care Quality Commission Inspection

A key item scheduled for discussion is the outcomes of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection of the council's Adult Social Care function. The committee is set to receive a report and presentation from Melanie Williams, Executive Director – People Services, detailing the findings of this inspection. The report outlines that West Northamptonshire Council received an overall rating of Requires Improvement with a score of 59%.

The CQC assessment identified several strengths, including clear strengths in person-centred practice, prevention, safeguarding, and partnership working. However, it also highlighted areas for improvement, such as capacity challenges, waiting times, data quality issues, and inequalities in access. The report notes that many people do not consistently receive timely, coordinated care. Specific problems identified include long waits for assessments, reviews, equipment, and therapy, as well as inconsistent communication and difficulties for carers in accessing support.

The council has identified five priority action areas to address these issues:

• Workforce development and Practice Framework: Refreshing and embedding a practice framework to ensure consistent and equitable approaches.
• Communication and Information Sharing: Improving how information and advice are provided to residents, carers, and staff.
• Leadership Development and Team Support: Ensuring stable leadership and consistent support for the workforce.
• Data and Performance Management: Becoming more data-driven with clear performance reporting, focusing on waiting times for assessments, reviews, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
• Partnership Working: Strengthening collaboration with the NHS, providers, and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Developing a programme to understand and improve experiences for all users and staff, addressing inequalities faced by different groups.

The report indicates that an improvement plan, titled Becoming Better Together, is being developed. This plan will run alongside the Adult Social Care sustainability plan and will be coproduced with various stakeholders, including the scrutiny committee, staff, partners, and a coproduction group of service users and carers. The plan is expected to be presented to the cabinet in March for sign-off and will evolve throughout 2026. The report also mentions that the council has accessed the Partners in Care and Health support programme and has reviewed its work supporting people with Learning Disability and Autism.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee is also scheduled to review its work programme for the remainder of the 2025-26 municipal year. The Committee Action Log, detailing ongoing tasks and responsibilities, will be appended to this review. The work programme document indicates that future discussions may include topics such as community funding grants, communication and access to services, and health inequalities. It also highlights ongoing joint work with other scrutiny committees on areas like the Home Adaptations Policy and the transition of young people with additional needs from children's to adult social care.

The Adult Social Care, Health and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee is chaired by Councillor Bob Purser, with Councillor Hayley Adkins serving as Vice-Chair. Other members include Councillor Adrian Cartwright, Councillor Pinder Chauhan, Councillor Alison Eastwood, Councillor Cameron Emery, Councillor Susan Gaskell, Councillor Rosie Herring, Councillor Scott Packer, and Councillor Andrew Simpson. The meeting will be attended by officers including Melanie Williams, Executive Director – People Services, and David Johns, Director of Public Health.