Adult social care services in Barnet are facing significant risks due to workforce shortages and lengthy waiting lists, according to a performance report that the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee was asked to review.
The report highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining adequate workforce capacity, the sustainability of care providers, and the impact of NHS restructuring on service delivery.
To address workforce shortages, Barnet council is actively recruiting to essential vacant posts, temporarily filling them with agency staff where necessary. They are collaborating with HR on effective recruitment campaigns and exploring creative strategies to attract high-quality staff, noting an increase in requests for higher salaries. A specific focus is being placed on recruiting 'waiting well workers' to explore alternative options for individuals on waiting lists. However, the report acknowledges a struggle to attract high-quality staff, even with agency recruitment, and notes instances where agency staff have been let go due to the quality of their work.
The ongoing NHS restructuring presents a significant risk to adult social care services. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) have completed their voluntary redundancy process, and in Quarter 1, have started the selection process for remaining posts, with significant compulsory redundancies expected. The precise impact on local service delivery and how the ICB will fulfil its revised core offer remains unclear. This concern has been escalated to the West and North London ICB Chief Executives meeting, affecting all boroughs in the region. A lack of clarity from the ICB regarding engagement with boroughs by Autumn 2026 could jeopardise service delivery and the outcome of the mandatory Public Health Peer Review.
Despite these challenges, committee members welcomed positive performance and improvements, and the committee resolved to note a report on improvements. Improvements were reported in residential access to information, outcomes from short-term support, and residents' reported quality of life and social contact. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has commenced a comprehensive assessment of Adult Social Care and is expected to span approximately 19 weeks, involving the submission of an extensive information return and a two-week on-site visit.
Concerns remain about Barnet's performance in areas such as people's control over their daily lives and satisfaction with care and support where the borough remains in the bottom national performance quartile.
Further details on the performance of adult social care services can be found in the Public reports pack.