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 3

  1. Wandsworth Council Considers Council Tax Rise Amidst Significant Budget Shortfall Wandsworth Council Considers Council Tax Rise to Address Budget Shortfall Wandsworth 30 July 2026
  2. Wandsworth Council Reports £9.8m Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Homelessness Costs Wandsworth Council has reported a significant budget overspend of £9.8 million for the 2025/26 financial year, a deficit primarily driven by increased demand and costs in adult... Wandsworth 30 July 2026
  3. Adult Social Care Pressures Lead to £1.2m Savings at RICs and £1.5m at Unluckily, Council Faces £2.4m HSC Overspend Tower Hamlets Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the council's financial position and performance, with adult social care pressures contributing to a £1.2... Tower Hamlets 29 July 2026
  4. Brent Council Projects £18.3m Overspend in 2025-26 Due to Social Care and Homelessness Pressures Brent Council is facing a projected £18.3 million overspend for the 2025-26 financial year, primarily driven by significant pressures in adult social care and homelessness... Brent 29 July 2026
  5. Adult social care demand drives costs Lambeth Council is grappling with a substantial financial deficit, projecting an overspend of nearly £11 million for the current financial year and a cumulative budget gap... Lambeth 23 July 2026
  6. Lambeth Council Faces £11m Overspend Amidst Significant Financial Pressures Lambeth Council is grappling with a significant financial challenge, projecting an overspend of nearly £11 million for the current financial year. The council's Cabinet convened... Lambeth 23 July 2026
  7. Children's services face budget pressures Lambeth Council is grappling with significant budget pressures, with children's services facing a projected overspend of £2.018 million for the current financial year. This is... Lambeth 23 July 2026
  8. Council warns of funding cuts impact Lambeth Council is grappling with a severe financial crisis, forecasting an £11 million overspend for the current financial year and a staggering £93 million budget gap over the... Lambeth 23 July 2026