We’re ambitious for adult care services in Lincolnshire – and the early successes of our improvement programme are already making a difference.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its latest assessment of Lincolnshire County Council’s adult care services. They looked at nine areas to evaluate how well we are meeting our adult care responsibilities, with their report highlighting that we have solid foundations in place. It does identify some areas where we could do better, but it recognises that we are already taking action to improve things. This is our first full assessment since inspection of local authorities by the CQC was introduced in 2024, and we have been given an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’.
Cllr Steve Clegg, executive councillor for adult care and health, said: “When our new administration came into the council, it was clear that there was significant scope for improvement within our adult care services. We weren’t prepared to sit back and allow things to continue as they had done previously – we wanted to be much more ambitious.
“We strengthened the council's senior leadership arrangements, bringing fresh ideas and expertise into key roles and creating the confidence and freedom needed to drive innovation, challenge traditional ways of working and deliver improvements quickly.
“We introduced the first ever wide-ranging Adult Social Care Strategy and reinvigorated our improvement programme, giving renewed momentum to work that is helping to modernise services, expand supported living opportunities and make better use of technology to support people to remain independent for longer.
“Although the CQC’s 2023 pilot assessment provided valuable insight for both the council and the regulator, this latest assessment is the first comprehensive evaluation carried out using the CQC’s significantly changed methodology. As a result, it provides the most reliable picture of where the service was when they inspected us back in December, although we have, of course, made significant improvements since then.
“The CQC’s report underlines that change was needed and validates our decision to take immediate action. It also recognises our early successes and the progress we had already made prior to their visit.
“The report recognises our strong partnerships, our sound arrangements for safeguarding, and our commitment to learning and improving. We have leaders who understand where improvement is needed and are successfully implementing plans to make it happen. We’re also committed to giving those who draw on our services a much greater say in how they are delivered, to help us better meet their needs so they can have the lives they want.
“I’m incredibly proud of the commitment, professionalism and compassion shown every day by our staff, providers, partners, volunteers and unpaid carers. Together, their hard work has been central to the improvements already achieved and will continue to drive further progress in the years ahead.
"Our ambition remains clear: to help people to live the lives they want to lead, ensuring they receive the right support, at the right time.”
Martin Samuels, executive director for adult care and community wellbeing, added: “The people who rely on our services are at the heart of everything we do. So, we’re particularly pleased that the CQC has praised the positive work taking place to support people to build on their strengths and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
“We’re committed to continuous improvement, and, as the report highlights, even before the inspection, we had already been taking action to address specific aspects of our services. These are often a result of the unique challenges associated with delivering services in a large, rural county with an ageing population. The report highlights the impact of the action we have already taken and the strength of the steps we have in hand. Our focus is on maintaining that momentum and continuing to strengthen the quality, consistency and impact of our services.
“The CQC’s report also serves to underline the good progress we’ve made since the pilot assessment in 2023, when we were one of a handful of councils helping them to test their prototype inspection arrangements. Drawing on the learning from that pilot, they’ve redesigned their approach to inspection, such that the ratings from the pilot report and the latest assessment are not comparable. That said, we do have some concerns about how they have assessed certain aspects of our performance, and we have requested a formal review of elements of their report.
“I know our staff will be disappointed by the overall rating, but they should also be proud of the progress that is already being made. They have been central to the improvements recognised in the report and are helping to drive the ambitious programme of change already underway across adult social care. Their professionalism, dedication and commitment give me real confidence for the future."
The full report can be viewed at www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports.