Havering Council is preparing for an upcoming inspection of its adult social care services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The People Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee convened on Tuesday 15 July 2025, to discuss preparations for the inspection, scheduled for the week commencing 18 August 2025. The council is incorporating the views and experiences of residents and their families by preparing 50 cases for case tracking and gaining consent from residents, their families and carers to speak to the CQC, and through discussions with staff and partners during the self-assessment process.

A group of people of different ethnicities joining hands in a show of unity and collaboration.
A group of people of different ethnicities joining hands in a show of unity and collaboration.

The CQC's assurance of local authorities is now a statutory requirement under the Health and Care Act 2022. The CQC's duty to assess local authorities' delivery of their adult social care (ASC) duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 took effect in late 2023, with the goal of inspecting all local authorities by the end of 2025. The CQC uses a two-stage notification process for inspections. Havering Council received the first notification on 7 April 2025, and submitted its evidence and self-assessment on 2 May 2025, comprising 120 items. The second notification was received on 30 June 2025, confirming the site visit for the week commencing 18 August 2025.

The CQC will evaluate local authorities' performance against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, using a framework developed with partners, agencies, and people with direct experience of care and support services. To understand the quality of care being delivered, the CQC will consider:

  • People's experiences (people with care and support needs and unpaid carers)
  • Feedback from staff and leaders (assessment and care management staff, social workers, and specialist teams)
  • Processes (timeliness of assessments, care planning, and care reviews)
  • Feedback from partners (community and voluntary sector groups, carer organisations, and advocacy groups)

The framework uses nine quality statements across four themes:

  • Working with People
  • Providing Support
  • Ensuring Safety
  • Leadership

Each theme includes 'I' statements (what people expect) and quality statements (commitments local authorities must make). For example, under 'Working with People', a strength identified by the council is Our workforce supporting people through increasing demand and complexity , while an area for development is to Reduce our waiting lists . To address areas for development, the council is updating key actions and plans, including plans to reduce waiting lists, co-produce the information and advice plan, increase assessments for unpaid carers, improve Mental Capacity Act (MCA) applications and evidence professional thinking, offer advocacy support, and engage with the community to understand those at risk of having unmet needs.

A person with Down Syndrome and a woman are smiling and working together at a table.
A person with Down Syndrome and a woman are smiling and working together at a table.

In preparation for the site visit, the council is preparing 50 cases for case tracking and seeking consent from residents and their families to speak to the CQC. Staff preparation sessions, including those supported by the Local Government Association (LGA), are being held. The council is also updating key actions and plans, preparing its Balanced Scorecard and Corporate and Service Objectives, and working with partners such as the Providers Forum, Havering Carers Hub, and COMPACT Chair.

The council's self-assessment highlighted strengths such as a dedicated Reablement service and a well-embedded Quality Assurance Framework. Areas for development include increasing assessments for unpaid carers and improving Mental Capacity Act (MCA) applications. The Balanced Scorecard priorities relevant to adult social care include working towards meeting the increasing demand for adult social care services; supporting people to return home from hospital with safe and timely discharges; promoting high standards of social care practice and supporting social care teams to deliver effective services; supporting the workforce; increase identification of and support to unpaid carers; increase engagement and enhance understanding of the community supported (the journey to co-production); strengthen transition pathways to ensure people receive timely and effective support; ensure relevant and useful information and advice is available for residents relating to adult social care; and reviews of supported living to ensure appropriate outcomes and ensure value for money.

The CQC Assurance of LA ASC 2025 report pack also included information on the CQC assurance process, including the two-stage notification process.