We look at how local authorities meet their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act (2014).
The local authority assessment guidance is our definitive guidance for local authorities. We have reviewed and updated some aspects using:
- a formal evaluation of 5 pilot assessments carried out during July to November 2023
- learning from the first year of assessments
- feedback from local authorities on their assessment.
In this period, we also reviewed data from all 153 local authorities in England that is already published, such as Market Position Statements and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. This helped to identify themes and insight on access, commissioning, market shaping, workforce and personalisation.
We will continue to update this guidance as we further develop and refine our approach.
We aim to report on what we find locally and nationally, which includes:
- documenting the challenges, risks and impact on local populations
- supporting improvement by highlighting best practice and sharing learning and any innovative ways that systems are providing care and support to local people
- using our evidence and independent voice to share learning, inform and influence wider system reforms.
Initial formal assessments
We will complete our initial formal assessments by the end of March 2026. During this phase, we will carry on developing and refining our approach.
For all 153 local authorities, we aim to gather the evidence that we need to:
- complete initial assessments
- award ratings
- report on our findings.
Within this 2-year period, we intend to assess each relevant local authority once.
However, in exceptional circumstances, we may need to carry out more than one assessment if there are issues of concern. For example, we may do this if:
- we believe people are or may be at risk of harm
- we have previously carried out an assessment where we have identified serious risks to people and need assurance that improvements have been made.
We look at each issue of concern individually when deciding whether to carry out any additional assessments.
Period of assessment
Our assessments start when we send an information return to local authorities with adult social care functions. They end when we publish our reports.
During the assessment, we intend to look at evidence that relates to the 12 months preceding the start of the assessment (when we send the information return). This is the period to which the assessment relates.
However, we may look at evidence outside of the 12-month period. Examples of when we will do this include:
- when we need to look at data that is published every 2 years
- when looking at organisational strategies and policies.
In exceptional circumstances, it may be appropriate for us to look at information of concern that is several years old. We will only consider this if it is significant and relevant to our current assessment. Our assessment teams will consider each individual case to make these decisions.
If we identify serious risks to people during an assessment (‘assessment A’) we will follow these up in a further assessment (‘assessment B’). The period that the follow-up assessment (B) relates to is:
- from the date of publication of the report for assessment A
- to the date when we publish the report for the follow-up assessment (B).
We will report serious failings to the Department of Health and Social Care. See Notifying the Secretary of State.
Ongoing assessment
When we have carried out an initial formal assessment of all local authorities, we will be able to understand how well they are meeting their Care Act duties as a starting point.
We will then begin our longer-term approach to regular ongoing assessments.
Secretary of State’s objective and priorities
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022), the Secretary of State can set objectives and priorities for our assessments of local authorities and integrated care systems. These can sometimes be revised when needed.
The Secretary of State's objective of the assessment framework is for CQC to assess how well local authorities are delivering their Care Act duties for people accessing care and support.
The Secretary of State’s priorities:
- Access to care for those who need it, including people who are discharged from hospital.
- Personalisation of care to meet the needs of individual people and their carers.
- Commissioning services to support good outcomes from care.
- Supporting a vibrant and sustainable local care system.
- Support and development for the social care workforce.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has approved this final guidance on our assessments, as required by the Health and Care Act 2022.