The City of London Corporation was largely praised by the CQC after an inspection into its adult social care services
The City of London Corporation has had its adult social care services rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The local authority received a total score of 64 out of 100, just edging it beyond the 62 necessary for the grade. In a report published on Wednesday (July 15) CQC inspectors praised the Corporation for the quality of its assessments and its work with partners in the sector.
The experience of unpaid carers is however described as “mixed”, with some recorded as feeling “unsupported” and “isolated”.
Deputy Helen Fentimen, Chair of the Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, said the report is a “tribute to the dedication of our staff, providers, and partners”.
The Corporation, which is the governing body for the Square Mile, is unique for reasons including its responsibilities, its franchise, and its size.
When reviewing it alongside other London councils it has a particularly small residential base, reflected by the fact that roughly 135 people are recorded as accessing long-term adult social care support in 2023/24.
CQC, the industry watchdog, notes the Corporation is formally exempt from the Adult Social Care Survey and Survey of Adult Carers in England due to the limited number of people meeting the criteria.
In its assessment of the Corporation’s adult social care services CQC rated five areas as three out of four, with the remaining four receiving a two. Those to get the lower grade included ‘safeguarding’ and ‘governance, management and sustainability’.
The inspectors wrote that many people they spoke to as part of the review “described positive experiences of being listened to and involved in decisions about their care”.
Progress was noted in improving areas of care and support, with the quality of assessments also praised.
“People and carers described services as being responsive and committed to person-centred care,” the report reads.
“They valued timely support and communication from staff, but there were areas for improvement, such as equitable access to services closer to home, ensuring the voice of people was embedded through co-production, and support for unpaid carers.”
The experience of unpaid carers was one such area where particular concerns were raised.
CQC wrote: “Some spoke positively about grants and wellbeing activities that helped them maintain their health and independence. They valued opportunities to attend community events and carers’ groups.
“Others felt unsupported after assessments and described inconsistency around the follow up from the local authority. Unpaid carers told us they wanted clearer information about their rights and more practical support, including respite and sitting services. Some unpaid carers told us they felt isolated and struggled to balance caring responsibilities.”
The Corporation is described as having “a reflective learning culture”, with evidence shown of ways in which feedback had been taken onboard.
One area where ongoing work was flagged is in strengthening connections and improving engagement across the community, in particular with “seldom-heard groups”.
Commenting on the report Deputy Fentimen said: “Everyone should be able to live an independent, healthy and fulfilling life for as long as possible, and this report recognises the work we’re doing to help City residents do just that.
“It is also a tribute to the dedication of our staff, providers, and partners, who work tirelessly to deliver high-quality care and support for people across the Square Mile.
“While the report identifies opportunities for us to build on and strengthen our services further, what shines through most clearly is the difference our support makes to people’s everyday lives.
That is something we are incredibly proud of, and we remain committed to building on these strengths and delivering even better outcomes for residents in the years ahead.”
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