Southampton City Council’s adult social care service has been rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission after inspectors found problems in several key areas.
Southampton City Council’s adult social care service has been rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission after inspectors found problems in several key areas.
The CQC identified weaknesses across all nine areas it assessed, with the most serious concerns relating to safeguarding, assessing people’s needs, and leadership and management. The council received an overall score of 42 per cent.
Inspectors found delays in safeguarding investigations and assessments, meaning some people did not receive support as quickly as they should have. They also found that recommendations from a safeguarding review carried out in 2024 had not yet been fully completed when the inspection took place.
The report said ongoing leadership changes had affected the service’s ability to improve. Southampton had 11 directors of adult social services in the last 12 years, making it difficult to provide consistent leadership.
The CQC also raised concerns about unconscious bias and a lack of cultural inclusivity, which may have affected some people’s access to care. Delays in Care Act assessments were linked to staff capacity pressures within the service.
Despite the concerns, inspectors found examples of good teamwork and recognised efforts to improve services. Council leaders accepted that the rating reflected the service at the time of the inspection, although they disagreed with some details in the report.
The council said significant improvements have already been made since the assessment. A recovery programme is now in place, supported by a 29-point improvement plan. Leaders said their priority is to provide all residents with timely, high-quality care and support, helping people live independently and safely in their own homes for as long as possible.
Source: LDRS
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