West Sussex County Council’s Adults’ Services rated ‘good’ by national regulator

Adult Services in West Sussex have been rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors highlighted strong leadership in adult social care teams and praised the support that helps people live healthier, more independent lives.

The CQC states that there’s still room for improvement in some areas, but the findings demonstrate real progress in the quality of services.

Councillor Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care, said: “A ‘good’ rating from the CQC is recognition of the journey we’ve been on to improve our adult social care services. It’s a success for our teams, who oversee and deliver care to thousands of people in West Sussex, and a great achievement given the ongoing pressures the social care sector faces locally and nationally. Thank you to everyone involved for their commitment and hard work - our staff, partners, residents, carers, and voluntary organisations. 

“The findings reflect the progress we have made through our two-year improvement programme and confirm that our Adult Social Care Strategy is working. However, our work and ambitions do not stop here. We remain committed to prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our residents, addressing the areas for improvement and ensuring that our services continue to evolve to meet the needs of our communities.”

Councillor Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, added: “Thank you to everyone who contributed to this result. Challenges remain across the sector, and we are investing significantly in our adult services in line with the priorities in Our Council Plan to keep people safe from vulnerable situations and help them fulfil their potential. It’s great to see our approach and the work of our teams having a positive impact on people’s lives. We are not complacent, and there is much more we want and need to do to improve, especially in the areas highlighted in the report.”

The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. During their visit in February 2025, assessors met more than 200 people including staff, elected members, partners, and individuals receiving care, and looked at how effectively the council meets its responsibilities under the Care Act.

Key strengths include:

• Leadership, improvement, and innovation
• Preventative services having a real impact on people’s wellbeing, helping them to remain independent for longer
• A culture of learning, providing positive feedback and career development for staff
• Clear governance and risk management
• Relationships with stakeholders and partners
• A well-established multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Board with clearly defined roles and responsibilities
• Proactive engagement with minority groups and a good understanding of culture, diversity and advocacy
• Strong focus on population and health and preventative care

Areas for improvement include:

• Faster completion of Care Act reviews
• Simplification and consistency in the direct payments process
• Addressing gaps in provision for people with complex and multiple needs, younger people living with dementia, emergency respite care, and people with progressive conditions
• Some unpaid carers wished for more respite and involvement in decision making

Actions taken to address these areas:

• Introducing a dedicated review team, which has improved waiting times from the previous year.
• The report recognised strong awareness and collaboration with partners to identify needs and actions to address gaps in provision.
• A Direct Payment Programme, including updated policy, that is improving consistency and the numbers of people in receipt of direct payments.
• Planned engagement with unpaid carers as part of refreshing our Carers Strategy over the coming months.