The Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission of Leicester Council was scheduled to discuss a range of important topics, including the Care Quality Commission's inspection of the Integrated Crisis Response Service, support for carers, and updates on the Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan. The meeting was also set to cover new employment legislation and a summary of the LLR LeDeR Annual Report.

Integrated Crisis Response Service: Care Quality Commission Inspection

The commission was scheduled to receive a report detailing the outcome of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection of the Leicester City Council Integrated Crisis Response Service (ICRS). The report indicated that the ICRS had received an Outstanding rating overall, with all five key areas assessed by the CQC also rated as outstanding. This represented an upgrade from its previous Good rating. The report highlighted the service's rapid response to individuals experiencing crises at home, such as falls, aiming to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate timely hospital discharges. The recommendation was for the commission to note the CQC report and commend the staff and managers for their efforts.

Support for Carers

An update on the work being undertaken to support carers in Leicester was scheduled for discussion. This included findings from CQC and peer reviews, the development of a new Carers Strategy for 2026-2030, and an overview of the commissioned Carers Support Service delivered by Age UK. The report also outlined plans for short breaks for carers, initiatives funded by the Accelerating Reform Fund (LLR), and the development of a new guide for carers and carer assessments. The report noted that in the financial year 2025/26, adult social care directly supported 712 carers, with a significant number receiving carer respite or direct payments. The CQC inspection in early 2025 had identified areas for improvement regarding carers' support, including long waiting times for assessments and inconsistencies in their delivery.

Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan Update

The commission was due to receive an update on the progress of the Leicester City Adult Social Care Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan for 2024-2026. The plan has been strengthened to include a greater focus on neurodiversity, recognising that individuals experience neurodivergence differently. The report highlighted that the first priority of the plan is to ensure that information, advice, and guidance is easy to find, use, reliable, and consistent for autistic and neurodivergent people. Progress included the publication of the plan on the City Council website, the formation of a project delivery group, and community engagement events held during Autism Acceptance Month and Neurodiversity Celebration Week. These events aimed to improve accessibility, encourage conversations, and gather feedback on making Leicester a more neurodivergent-friendly city.

Employment Rights Act 2025

A report was scheduled to update the commission on the significant reforms introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025, which were being phased in between 2026 and 2027. These reforms were expected to have implications for workforce costs, recruitment, retention, rota planning, and payroll compliance for adult social care providers. Key changes included eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of absence, day one entitlement to unpaid parental leave and paternity leave, and new rights for bereaved partners. The report also mentioned the establishment of a new Fair Work Agency and increased liability for employers failing to consult collectively on redundancies. The report noted that while these reforms were a welcome improvement for workers, they presented potential risks and implications that would require careful management by providers.

LLR LeDeR Annual Report Summary 2025

The commission was scheduled to be briefed on the findings of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) LeDeR programme, which focuses on learning from the lives and deaths of autistic people and those with a learning disability to prevent premature deaths. The report indicated that in 2024/25, 90 deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people were notified to the programme. Key findings included that people with a learning disability continue to die at a younger age than the general population, with particular concerns around health inequalities related to ethnicity and the complexity of learning disabilities. Respiratory issues remained the leading cause of death for people with a learning disability, while suicide, misadventure, or accidental death was the leading cause for autistic people. The report highlighted concerns regarding the application of the Mental Capacity Act and low uptake of cancer screening.

Work Programme

Members of the commission were invited to consider the work programme and suggest additional items for inclusion. The report indicated that the commission had previously discussed items such as the CQC Reablement inspection, loneliness and social isolation, equality and diversity plans, and annual reports on complaints and commendations. Items agreed to be added to the work programme included the consideration of AI for complaints analysis, supported living (potentially as a joint item with the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission), and quality assurance processes.