Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, presented a brief overview of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Local Authority Adult Social Care (ASC) inspections which will take place in all boroughs nationally from January 2024 to the end of December 2025. Members were informed that care given to residents is of a culturally sensitive nature to ensure residents feel at home, even while in daycare services or transitioning to residential care. The inspection preparation has taken a year and included reviewing our policies and practices and preparing staff.

Emily Fieran-Reed, Programme Manager, ASC Improvement, then outlined the CQC Assessment Framework and its four theme’s. This includes assessing the resident and carers needs, how support is provided, how safety is embedded in the work we do and how capable and compassionate leadership is maintained with  learning, improvement, innovation and governance. Members were informed that CQC inspections began in January 2024 and it is anticipated that all local authorities will be inspected by the end of December 2025.

Ms Fieran-Reed then detailed how the CQC will assess the ASC directorate. This will include reviewing various documents, the website, and evaluate approximately 50 actual cases. Stakeholders will also be contacted for feedback, as will other members of the community. The main objectives for staff  are the self-assessments, which are regularly reviewed., the Information Returns and the aforementioned case tracking of 50 cases. Plans are already in place for the day the assessment commences.

Members were reminded that a Peer Review took place in January 2024 and received positive feedback. The strengths noted included the knowledgeable and experienced staff, the strength based approach, strong partnerships, the ongoing work with the community and the independence living hub and the carers centre. The areas of focus included better utilising data, ensuring residents are not dependent on services, particularly those with low needs and a better understanding of user satisfaction.

Further to questions from the sub-committee, Georgia Chimbani, Corporate Director, Health and Adults Social Care and Emily Fieran-Reed;

·       Noted that regular feedback is sought from residents on service satisfaction. There is also an on-line platform residents can visit to give feedback. If repeated trends are revealed, these will be included in the improvement plans.

·       Confirmed that CQC inspections are a new implemented measure for ASC. Prior to this Local Authority Inspection teams visited ASC departments.

·       Clarified that the ASC collaborates with Mental Health Trust teams in order to ensure that discharge agreements are provided and establish whether the leading professional will be a district nurse, occupational therapist or social worker. The aim is to acquire more specialist staff available to discharge residents from hospital at an earlier stage.

·       Explained that working with the housing team is integral to ensuring residents long-term needs are met. A housing with Care Strategy was recently agreed at Cabinet, which will increase the provision of extra care and decrease the need for residential care.

·       Noted that methods of resident feedback are constantly evolving to ensure they are sustainable. The CQC require data driven data, as they look for outcomes. Public Health teams conducted an in-depth needs assessment, linked with the ASC client group and GP data to evaluate how residents with long-term health concerns use the service. Research revealed that some do not consult with their GP in the manner anticipated and that viewing the individual rather than the illness is more beneficial.

·       Clarified that there is a National Service User Survey available, as well as a Carers survey and the Carers Centre also has feedback links. The organisation REAL, Tower Hamlets' largest Disabled People's Organisation has collaborated on co-production work with the Council and provided independent feedback.

·       Acknowledged that the task of submitting cases for CQC review is ensuring that all 50 cases have been resolved within the last six months. This means that certain cases must be removed from the list in order to be valid for the CQC inspection once announced.

·       Explained that CQC ratings separate care provider ratings from Local Authority ones when undertaking inspections, as different frameworks are used to make assessments. The CQC requires evidence that residents have received good quality of care in a variety of ways and that Councils have provided the statutory responsibilities.

·       Observed that not all providers are commissioned by the Council, although both commissioned and non-commissioned providers have a strong relationship with the Council.

The Health and Adults Sub-Committee RESOLVED that;

1.    The presentation be noted.