Lewisham Council is set to enhance its support for unpaid carers as part of a broader strategy to strengthen adult social care services. The commitment comes as the council responds to findings from a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.
The CQC inspection, published in August 2026, found Lewisham's adult social care services to be just short of a Good
rating. While acknowledging strengths in safeguarding, supporting people to live healthier lives, and learning and improvement, the report identified areas for development including improved support for unpaid carers. Specifically, the CQC report noted the need to improve support for unpaid carers
as an area for development, contributing to the overall 'requires improvement' rating. It also highlighted that some people have experienced delays in assessments and reviews, while others have not always felt fully involved in decisions about their care.
Denise Radley, Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health, stated that the council is developing a detailed action plan to address the CQC's findings, incorporating existing programmes of work. This plan, which has been co-produced with Lewisham's unpaid carers, will be presented to the Healthier Communities Select Committee in November. She highlighted that improving support for unpaid carers is a key focus, with a comprehensive plan already in place. While specific components are not detailed, significant improvements have been observed, including an increase in the number of carers who find it easy to access information and advice.
Councillor Samantha Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, emphasised the importance of listening to the voices of unpaid carers, noting that their input is crucial for identifying areas of necessary improvement. She added that the council is committed to ensuring people feel seen and heard, particularly those with invisible or fluctuating disabilities. To achieve this, the council plans to engage with groups such as the Working Together group established following work on a co-production framework with the Social Care Institute for Excellence
and Unpaid carers' networks
to understand how they wish to be involved in the improvement work.
Lewisham has secured support through the Better Care Fund Support Programme, which will provide tailored assistance for supporting unpaid carers during hospital discharge and for home-based intermediate care. This includes Communities of Practice for Home-Based Intermediate Care
and Communities of Practice for Supporting Unpaid Carers During Discharge.
The aim of the Better Care Fund is to improve outcomes for residents by promoting independence, reducing avoidable hospital admissions and ensuring timely discharge from hospital.
