Issue

Adult Social Care

78 stories · discussed at 40 council meetings · 29 councils

Councils are addressing significant financial pressures and rising demand in adult social care, with recent CQC ratings highlighting service performance.

Lambeth's Adult Social Care services received an overall 'Good' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2026, with an 'Outstanding' rating for Equity in Experiences and Outcomes. Sutton's services also received a 'Good' CQC rating in 2025, praised for Technology Enabled Care, though facing rising demand. Lewisham's services were rated 'Good' by the CQC in August 2026, with areas for development including improved support for unpaid carers. Hackney's safeguarding concerns tripled in 2025/26, with a rise in self-neglect and younger adult cases, a report to the Adults Health and Integration Scrutiny Commission revealed in September 2026.

Many councils are addressing significant financial pressures in adult social care. Sutton Council faces a £36.5 million budget gap over the next three years, partly due to rising demand in adult social care, a report to the Strategy and Resources Committee said in October 2026. Bromley Council projects a £4.5 million overspend for 2026-2027, with pressures in care placements and staffing, according to budget monitoring data presented to the Executive in September 2026. Enfield Council's Cabinet approved a £7.3 million budget realignment in September 2026, directing funds to adult social care after it faced a £7.7 million overspend.

Kingston Council's People Committee approved a new adult social care strategy for 2026-2029 in September 2026, focusing on promoting independence and supporting unpaid carers. Islington's adult social care services exceeded its care home admission target in Quarter 4 of 2025/26, with the council investigating contributing factors, a performance report to the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee showed in September 2026. Lewisham's Mayor and Cabinet are scheduled to discuss financial and strategic matters, including adult social care, on 07 October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Lambeth's Adult Social Care received an overall 'Good' CQC rating in May 2026. Source
  2. Sutton Council faces a projected budget gap of £36.5 million over the next three years. Source
  3. Hackney's safeguarding concerns tripled from 1,780 in 2024/25 to 2,798 in 2025/26. Source
  4. Bromley Council projects a £4.5 million overspend for the 2026-2027 financial year. Source
  5. Enfield Council's Cabinet approved a £7.3 million budget realignment in September 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. 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 7 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 4

  1. Barnet Council's Adult Social Care Faces Invoicing Systemic Issues Barnet Council's Finance and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee has raised significant concerns regarding invoicing issues within adult social care, pointing to systemic... Barnet 22 July 2026
  2. Redbridge Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy Faces Uncertainty Redbridge Council faces significant financial uncertainty, with projections indicating a substantial funding gap from the 2029/30 financial year onwards. Despite securing an... Redbridge 21 July 2026
  3. Merton faces £9.6m budget gap by 2027/28 Merton Council is facing a projected budget gap of £9.694 million by the financial year 2027/28, with the deficit expected to grow to £33.808 million by 2030/31. This... Merton 17 July 2026
  4. Camden Residents Influence Adult Social Care Future Through 'We Care' Project Camden residents have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of adult social care in the borough, with their expectations and insights forming a key part of a recent... Camden 10 July 2026
  5. New Families, Health and Care Policy and Accountability Committee established in Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith and Fulham has established a new committee to scrutinise health and care services across the borough. The Families, Health and Care Policy and Accountability... Hammersmith and Fulham 30 June 2026
  6. Sutton Council's People Directorate Faces Significant Financial Pressures, Particularly in Adult Social Care and SEND Services Sutton Council's People Directorate is grappling with significant financial pressures, accounting for two-thirds of the council's overall budget. Adult Social Care alone... Sutton 20 June 2026
  7. Lambeth Council Approves £250m for Adult Social Care and Other Key Services Lambeth Council has approved a significant budget for adult social care, allocating £250 million towards services for the borough's most vulnerable residents. This funding is... Lambeth 30 May 2026
  8. Waltham Forest Council Approves £611m Budget and 4.99% Council Tax Increase Waltham Forest Council has approved a budget of £611.072 million for the upcoming year, alongside a 4.99% increase in council tax. Waltham Forest 25 May 2026