The Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission of Leicester Council met on Thursday 23 April 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting adult social care services in the city. Key topics included the Care Quality Commission's inspection of the Integrated Crisis Response Service, support for carers, and updates on the Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan. The meeting also covered new employment legislation, the LLR LeDeR Annual Report, and the commission's future work programme.

Leicester City Council Integrated Crisis Response Service: Care Quality Commission Inspection

The commission was scheduled to receive a report detailing the outcome of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection of the Leicester City Council Integrated Crisis Response Service (ICRS). The report indicated that the ICRS had received an Outstanding rating overall, with all five key areas – Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led – also rated as outstanding. This represented an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2018. The report highlighted the service's rapid response to individuals experiencing crises at home, such as falls, preventing hospital admissions and facilitating timely hospital discharges. The recommendation was for the commission to note the CQC report and commend the staff and managers for their efforts.

Support for Carers

An update on carers' work in Leicester was scheduled for discussion, outlining key priorities for the next nine months. This included findings from CQC and peer reviews, the development of a new Carers Strategy for 2026-2030, and details on the commissioned Carers Support Service delivered by Age UK. The report also covered short breaks for carers, projects funded by the Accelerating Reform Fund (LLR), and the development of a new guide for carers and carer assessments. The report noted that in the financial year 2025/26, adult social care directly supported 712 carers, with 620 receiving a carers assessment. The CQC inspection in early 2025 had rated the council's response to carers as requires improvement, citing issues such as long waits for assessments and inconsistent approaches. A peer review in December 2025 also identified areas for improvement, including staff understanding of available support and the clarity of the strategic vision for carers.

Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan Update

The commission was set to receive an update on the Leicester City Adult Social Care Autism and Neurodiversity Delivery Plan for 2024-2026. The plan, which has strengthened its focus on neurodiversity, aims to make information, advice, and guidance easy to find, use, reliable, and consistent for autistic and neurodivergent people. The report detailed progress made since the plan's launch, including community engagement events held during Autism Acceptance Month and Neurodiversity Celebration Week. These events aimed to improve accessibility, encourage open conversations, and gather feedback on making the city more neurodivergent-friendly. The plan aligns with the Care Act 2014, the Equality Act 2010, and the Autism Act 2009.

Employment Rights Act 2025

A report was scheduled to update the commission on the significant reforms introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025, which were being phased in across 2026 and 2027. These reforms were expected to have implications for workforce costs, recruitment, retention, and payroll compliance within adult social care providers. Key changes included eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of absence, day-one entitlements to unpaid parental leave and paternity leave, and expanded leave for bereaved partners. The establishment of a new Fair Work Agency and increased liability for employers failing to consult on redundancies were also noted. The report highlighted the particular challenges for the adult social care sector in Leicester and Leicestershire, which already faces high vacancy and turnover rates, with approximately 87% of the workforce employed in the independent sector.

LLR LeDeR Annual Report Summary 2025

The commission was to be briefed on the findings of the LLR LeDeR (Learning from Lives and Deaths of autistic people and those with a learning disability) programme. The report summarised reviews of deaths in 2024/25, focusing on learning to prevent premature deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people in the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) area. Key findings from 90 deaths notified in 2024/25 indicated that people with a learning disability continue to die at a younger age than the general population, with further disparities noted for those with severe or profound learning disabilities and individuals from ethnic minority groups. Respiratory issues remained the leading cause of death for people with learning disabilities, while suicide, misadventure, or accidental death was the leading cause for autistic people. The report also highlighted concerns regarding the application of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and low uptake of cancer screening among individuals with learning disabilities.

Work Programme

Members of the commission were invited to consider the work programme and suggest additional items for inclusion. The report outlined the commission's scheduled meetings and the topics planned for discussion throughout 2025-2026. Items previously agreed to be added to the programme included the consideration of AI for complaints analysis, supported living (potentially as a joint item with the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission), and quality assurance processes.