Agenda item

Report to follow.

Jayne Ratcliffe presented the agenda item on Care Quality Commission (CQC) Preparedness. It was outlined that the Council is expecting a visit from the CQC within the next few months as part of an assessment that began on the 9^th June 2025. An Information Return request had been made to the Council by the CQC and this had been submitted. It was noted that this is an opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Key Strengths were identified by the team as part of the self-assessment, including a robust front door service, a clear vision and strategy and a positive approach to market oversight. It was noted that other authorities are looking at Oldham’s Tiered Risk Assessment and Management (TRAM) protocol, which is a multi-agency framework addressing complex cases.

Areas for development were also identified as part of the self-assessment, including reducing waiting lists, improving the transitions of young people from Children’s social care to Adult social care, and improving engagement and co-production. It was highlighted that the council is already looking at working on these areas to improve them.

Preparations for the site visit were ongoing, and it was noted that the visit will last 2-3 days and include interviews with residents receiving care and their families, frontline staff, members including the lead portfolio holder and the shadow portfolio holder, the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and scrutiny board chair, and partners from a range of organisations, among others. It was noted that briefings were being prepared for those meeting with the CQC to ensure that they are prepared for the interviews and to share experience from other authorities. It was noted that at least 70 other local authorities are also awaiting visits from the CQC.

It was highlighted that, following the visit, the CQC will produce a draft report that the local authority is able to check for factual accuracy and completeness of evidence before final publication. Authorities are rated on a scale from Inadequate to Outstanding. It was noted that reports are taking several months to be published following the site visits. It was also highlighted that Camden Council is currently the only authority to receive an outstanding rating.

Members asked about whether the CQC would speak to other members of the Scrutiny Board, aside from the Chair, and it was noted that they would not be, but that this was set in guidance by the CQC rather than a choice by the authority. Members also raised questions on how gaps in senior management are being filled, and it was highlighted that there was a new Deputy Director of Adult Social Services and 4 senior roles, creating a stable leadership.

Members requested a report on the transition from Children’s social care to Adult social care be brought to the next meeting of the Board.

Members asked whether there had been any peer review done for the service, and it was noted that the self-assessment was a CQC ask, and the service does benchmark against other local authorities. It was also asked what learning is being taken from other authorities reports, such as Camden’s. It was noted that the authority was looking at those reports, including talks with the leadership at Camden, to learn from them.

Members asked whether the comments made by the authority in response to the report would be available for the board and it was asked whether the report would be made available to the board prior to its publication. It was noted that the comments that the authority would make on the report would only be regarding factual accuracy, not any material changes to the report. It was also noted that the report would be embargoed by CQC until the publication of the report.

Members asked whether all social care staff were involved in the assessments, and what the briefings would look like. It was noted that staff were involved in the assessments, highlighting that the evidence is around four areas, and that this would include minutes of meetings for example. Staff engagements sessions had also been held, and this included aspects around the CQC inspection. It was noted that the briefings were done working with ADASS and the LGA around what to expect during the inspection.

Members noted the success of hospital discharge support and asked why we are doing well on this compared to across Greater Manchester. It was noted that the team was co-located in hospitals and had good staff and leadership and a low turnover of staff. It was also noted that lots of work around capacity is ongoing to keep residents in the borough, including partnerships with the NHS and reviewing the Better Care fund.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.