Adult Social Care Services at Derby City Council have been rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ following an inspection carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a report published today.

While noting the areas identified for improvement, we would also highlight the substantial progress made in recent years which was recognised by inspectors at the time of the inspection.

The inspection took place in April 2024, and in July 2024 an independent review into the functioning of the Care Quality Commission published an interim report.

The report highlighted significant failings in the internal workings of the CQC, which had led to a substantial loss of credibility within the health and social care sector.  The failings identified included inspectors lacking the necessary experience and a lack of clarity around how ratings are calculated.  

However, despite the outcome of the report about the CQC, Derby City Council has acknowledged the publication of the CQC report, and the Council is continuing to strive to deliver the best possible services for the elderly and vulnerable in Derby.

The CQC report identifies several strengths within Adult Social Care services, including a positive learning culture and a focus on meeting the diverse needs of service users.

The report also highlights our strong partnerships, particularly around integrated health care, with partners providing positive feedback about their collaboration with the Council.

The Council has already taken substantial steps to address the issues and is confident these actions will further enhance the quality of care and experiences for our citizens.

Councillor Alison Martin, Cabinet Member Health and Adult Care, said: 

I am pleased that the CQC recognises that leaders at Derby City Council have good oversight of adult social care and that we are taking steps to improve the service.

Since Labour took control of the Council last May, I have been working alongside officers to bring about improvements because we had inherited from the Conservative-led Council many long-standing problems, such as significant backlogs and lack of engagement with service users.

We are now listening to and working with carers and under-represented groups, we have a programme of care reviews in place and some backlogs have been cleared.

There is more work to do and, in spite of the enormous budget pressures there are in social care, we have an improvement plan in place to ensure the best that can be delivered for people in Derby is delivered.

Andy Smith, Strategic Director of People Services, said: 

We’re committed to working across the service and with our partners to ensure that Adult Social Care services continue to develop and improve. We have a committed workforce across Adult Social Care, who work hard with some of our most vulnerable people in the city.

As always, we will continue to listen to the views of service users, their families, and care providers to inform our work and provide the best service possible.

Adult Social Care remains a significant financial pressure for local authorities across the country. As part of the Council’s commitment to deliver the best possible care, a commissioning programme across its Community Services areas is underway.

At its meeting on 10 July 2024, Council Cabinet members approved funding of £359m for commissioning and procurement activities for Adult Community Services over the next eight years. Customers, carers and families will be at the heart of developing and shaping these services, alongside consultation and engagement with care providers.