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 5

  1. Waltham Forest Council Approves Nearly 5% Council Tax Hike Waltham Forest Council has approved a nearly 5% increase in council tax for the upcoming financial year, a decision confirmed at a Council meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Waltham Forest 25 May 2026
  2. Bexley Council forecasts £1.36m budget overspend, citing improved financial position Bexley Council is forecasting a budget overspend of £1.361 million for the financial year 2025/26, representing less than half a percent of its total net revenue budget of just... Bexley 11 April 2026
  3. Adult Social Care rated 'Good' by CQC Tower Hamlets' Adult Social Care services have been rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), marking a significant achievement for the borough. The CQC's assessment,... Tower Hamlets 27 March 2026
  4. Tower Hamlets Council Faces £18.6m Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care Demand Tower Hamlets Council is facing a projected budget overspend of £18.6 million for the financial year 2025-26, according to a report presented to the Overview & Scrutiny... Tower Hamlets 25 March 2026
  5. Hillingdon Council Faces £36.3 Million Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Housing Pressures Hillingdon Council is facing a significant budget overspend of £36.3 million for the current financial year, primarily driven by increased demand in children's services, adult... Hillingdon 23 March 2026
  6. Lessons learned from Lewisham's Corporate Strategy 2022-2026 Lewisham Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the delivery of its Corporate Strategy 2022-2026, identifying key lessons learned that will inform the... Lewisham 22 March 2026
  7. Islington Adult Social Care Faces Care Home Admission Challenges Despite Strong Reablement Performance Adult social care in Islington is facing challenges with new admissions to care homes, despite strong performance in reablement services. Islington 14 March 2026
  8. Haringey Council to Procure Home Care and Reablement Services Haringey Council's Cabinet has approved the commencement of a procurement process for adult social care home care and reablement services. The decision, made during a meeting on... Haringey 14 March 2026