Issue

adult social care

76 stories · discussed at 42 council meetings · 29 councils

Councils face rising demand and financial pressures in adult social care, while focusing on performance and strategic planning.

Councils are currently grappling with significant financial pressures and rising demand for adult social care, which provides support for adults with care needs. Bromley Council projects a £4.5 million overspend for 2026-2027, citing pressures in placements and staffing, as reported in September 2026. Enfield Council approved a £7.3 million budget realignment in September 2026, directing funds to adult social care due to demand growth. Hackney also reported a tripling of safeguarding concerns from 2024/25 to 2025/26, increasing pressure on services.

Performance of adult social care services is also a key focus. Sutton's services were rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2025, praised for Technology Enabled Care, as reported in September 2026. Lewisham's services also received a 'Good' CQC rating in August 2026, though areas for improvement included support for unpaid carers. Kingston Council approved a new adult social care strategy for 2026-2029 in September 2026, focusing on independence and enhanced support for unpaid carers.

Looking ahead, Hackney's Cabinet will meet on 6 October 2026, and Lewisham's Mayor and Cabinet on 7 October 2026, with adult social care on their agendas. Adult social care refers to services provided by local authorities to support adults with care and support needs due to age, illness, or disability.

Key facts

  1. Sutton's adult social care services were rated 'Good' by the CQC in 2025, achieving a 70% score. Source 1 Source 2
  2. Hackney's safeguarding concerns tripled from 1,780 in 2024/25 to 2,798 in 2025/26. Source
  3. Islington's adult social care services exceeded their 2025/26 care home admission target of 190, with 197 admissions. Source
  4. Bromley Council projects a £4.5 million overspend for the 2026-2027 financial year, partly due to adult social care pressures. Source
  5. Enfield Council approved a £7.3 million budget realignment in September 2026, directing funds to Adult Social Care. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 8

  1. Bexley Council Faces £2.37M Overspend, Adult Social Care Hit Hardest Bexley Council is facing a £2.37 million overspend, primarily driven by challenges in Adult Social Care, according to the latest budget monitoring report. The Public Cabinet... Bexley 1 December 2025
  2. Merton Council Considers Savings in SEND Transport and Adult Social Care to Address Budget Gap Merton Council is exploring potential savings in its budget for the upcoming years, with a focus on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport and adult social... Merton 30 November 2025
  3. Adult Social Care in Harrow Risks Service Delivery Failures Due to Budget, Staffing, and Equipment Issues Harrow Council faces potential service delivery failures within its adult social care sector, according to a recent meeting of the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and... Harrow 29 November 2025
  4. Hillingdon Council Faces £30M Overspend Due to Social Care Demand and Savings Shortfalls Hillingdon Council is facing a significant £30.2 million overspend, primarily driven by increasing demand for social care services. Adult Social Care demand is contributing... Hillingdon 23 November 2025
  5. Enfield Council Faces £3.3 Million Overspend in Children's Services Amidst Broader Financial Challenges Enfield Council is grappling with a significant financial challenge, projecting a £3.3 million overspend in its children's services. This contributes to a larger £7.5 million... Enfield 23 November 2025
  6. Enfield Council Faces £63M Budget Gap by 2030 Amidst Rising Social Care Demands and Funding Uncertainty Enfield Council is projecting a significant budget shortfall of £63.4 million by the period spanning 2026/27 to 2029/30, according to a recent financial update presented to the... Enfield 23 November 2025
  7. Wandsworth Adult Social Care Receives 'Good' Rating Wandsworth Council's Adult Social Care services have received a 'Good' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), highlighting the council's commitment to person-centred... Wandsworth 20 November 2025
  8. Brent Council to Consult on 4.99% Council Tax Increase to Protect Frontline Services Brent Council is proposing a 4.99% increase in council tax for the 2026-27 financial year, a move intended to protect vital frontline services. The decision, which includes a 2%... Brent 18 November 2025