To consider the submitted report on the above.

The Sub?Board received the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Adult Social Care Assessment Report and the emerging Improvement Action Plan following the inspection undertaken in September 2025. Members congratulated officers on progress made to date and welcomed the positive direction of travel. It was noted that the action plan was still in development and would be brought back for further scrutiny, with members expressing an interest in having sight of the detailed plan once completed.

Members raised questions about the level of detail within the action plan, particularly in relation to timelines, measures of success and how progress would be shared with the public. Officers advised that a significant element of the improvement work focused on co?production and that engagement with people who use services had been, and would continue to be, central to the improvement approach.

The Sub?Board discussed hospital discharge, specifically the average time of 91 days for some people to return home. Clarification was sought on what was driving this and whether readmissions were contributing. Officers advised that, from an adult social care perspective, the quality of assessments was critical to ensuring people received the right support at the right time. However, it was acknowledged that wider system pressures were also contributing, including capacity pressures within the NHS and access to primary care services such as GPs.

Concerns were raised regarding the low uptake of Direct Payments. Members queried whether perceptions and practice might be limiting take?up and whether more could be done to promote their benefits. Officers acknowledged that while Direct Payments cannot be mandated, there was a need to better shape and refocus practice and messaging to improve understanding. It was confirmed that support mechanisms were in place to assist individuals with the administration of Direct Payments for those who required help managing them.

Members asked whether people accessing Adult Social Care services could be routinely identified as veterans, to enable veteran specific services and support agencies to be involved at an earlier stage. Officers advised that work was underway to strengthen this, including linking Adult Social Care webpages with veteran support information. It was acknowledged that identification and effective flagging of veteran status was an area requiring further development.

The Sub?Board noted work being undertaken by Healthwatch in partnership with the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and the Council to capture feedback from people using Direct Payments. It was reported that Healthwatch was exploring the opportunity to hold an engagement event aimed at improving understanding and increasing uptake of Direct Payments.

Members referred to concerns highlighted within the report regarding young people transitioning to adult services and the risk of individuals “slipping through the net”. Officers advised that this could in part be attributed to limitations in IT systems, and that the move to the Liquidlogic system would assist improvement. It was noted that not all young people transition through Children’s Services, as they may not have required the support of Children’s Services. Officers advised that work was ongoing to identify missed cases, understand the reasons, and raise awareness by increasing presence within the community. It was also noted that the Commissioning Director sat on the SEND Board, strengthening cross?system oversight.

Members asked about the Section 75 partnership arrangements and what the implications might be in the event of a further inspection. Officers advised that the position was not yet clear and that further guidance was awaited.

Resolved:

1.  that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board note the Care Quality Commission Adult Social Care Assessment Report and Improvement Action Plan; and

2.  that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board receive a quarterly progress update on the Adult Social Care, Care Quality Commission Improvement Plan.