We have been running a programme of local authority assessments since 2023. They have given us a rich opportunity to look at how well local authorities are meeting their obligations under Part 1 of The Care Act (2014). This time spent working with and in local authorities has deepened our understanding of social care across England. We will be sharing more on the findings and themes from baselining assessments in a report due to publish in the summer.
In May, we published our updated approach and guidance about our local authority assurance assessments and have now started the next phase of our work. The new guidance has been developed with key stakeholders – the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Local Government Association (LGA), Ofsted, local authorities and our assessment teams. We worked as well with providers and their representative organisations to review and strengthen the provider survey.
Our new approach introduces assurance meetings with key members of the local authority’s team. These will be informed by a local authority’s last assessment report, current intelligence and the authority’s self-assessment. I encourage all providers to respond to and engage with requests from the local authority regarding these assessments. Hearing a range of perspectives and voices is critical.
Caring for carers
Another key part of our assessment responsibilities is looking closely at how systems improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. Our assessments now place greater emphasis on the experiences of unpaid carers, ensuring their voices are central to our evidence and judgements.
What we are hearing is consistent. Unpaid carers are essential to the sustainability of adult social care, yet their experiences remain too variable. Across our early assessments and engagement, we have identified common themes: carers are not always identified early enough; they can face delays in receiving assessments; and many lack clear information about their rights and available support. Too often, respite provision and contingency planning are insufficient, leaving carers at risk of burnout.
However, there are also clear signs of what ‘good’ looks like. The most effective systems take a proactive, no wrong door approach, identifying carers early and making it simple to access help. They treat carer assessments with equal importance to those of the person being cared for, and they provide personalised, flexible support that reflects what matters most to individuals.
Partnership is critical. We are seeing the positive impact of collaboration with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, which often play a vital role in supporting wellbeing and preventing crisis. We are also strengthening our own approach by working with organisations such as Carers Trust and Carers UK to ensure carers’ voices are heard in ways that are meaningful and accessible.
For providers, this partnership work matters. High-quality care cannot be delivered in isolation from those who support people day-to-day. Recognising carers as partners, involving them in care planning and supporting them to sustain their role are all hallmarks of strong, person-centred services.
I saw a recent example of this partnership in action when we upgraded the rating of Belong at Home Domiciliary Care Agency – Wigan & Southport from good to outstanding following an inspection this spring. During our inspection, relatives told us that staff were very accommodating, taking the time to understand what the person in their care required and adapting to best meet those needs. Attention to detail was also consistently referenced in our conversations with families, and care plans were updated with regular involvement from people and their relatives.
Ultimately, improving support for unpaid carers is not an ‘add-on’ – it is fundamental to improving outcomes across the system. By focusing on what works, addressing inequalities and listening carefully to lived experiences, we can build a more sustainable and compassionate model of care for the future.
To read CQC’s updated approach and guidance about its local authority assurance assessments, click here. Then, share your thoughts by leaving a comment on this column.
Chris Badger is Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care at CQC.
Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: @Care-Quality-Commission