Chris Badger, CQC's Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, reflects on learning from our local authority assessments and the variation in people's experiences of adult social care across England. He highlights how strong leadership, effective prevention strategies and a focus on understanding local communities can improve outcomes for people.
The blog also explores common areas for improvement identified through assessments, including support for unpaid carers, safeguarding oversight, timely assessments and transitions between children's and adult services.
Read the blog to find out how local authorities are using learning and good practice to help deliver better care and support.
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 We are developing new guidance on what good dementia care should look like. Before we launch a formal consultation in early 2027, we would like your views to help shape the guidance before we start to write it.
This work aims to improve people’s experience of dementia care and their outcomes from care, including people who are living with dementia, their families and carers. Everyone should be able to expect to receive care that treats them as an individual person, recognising what matters most to them, and responding to their needs with dignity, compassion and understanding.
We want to hear a broad range of views from organisations and individual people who have knowledge, experience or an interest in this area.
The survey has 4 questions. Please submit your responses by 5pm on 30 October 2026.
 We are inviting adult social care providers and key stakeholders to register their interest in attending an online engagement event on the Adult Social Care assessment framework on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from 1pm to 3pm.
The session will provide an opportunity to hear from Chris Badger, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, who will discuss key areas of the assessment framework and methodology, and share feedback and insights to support its ongoing development and implementation.
We are keen to hear a wide range of perspectives from across the sector, including providers, representative bodies, partner organisations and people with lived experience. Complete the expression of interest form by Wednesday 7 October 2026. Places may be limited depending on demand, and we will aim to achieve a balanced representation across the sector.
CQC will be exhibiting at Care Show 2026 on 7 and 8 October 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, providing an opportunity to engage with adult social care providers and stakeholders, share updates on our work and gather sector insight.
We have also secured a number of speaking opportunities across the conference programme. Chris Badger, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, will deliver a keynote session, Bold Futures: Innovating Regulation to Improve Care, exploring how regulation can drive improvement and support better outcomes for people using services.
Colleagues from across CQC will contribute to expert-led sessions, including Always on for CQC, focusing on continuous quality improvement, and Registration: Hints, tips and latest news, offering guidance on registration requirements, expectations and common pitfalls.
CQC representatives will also take part in an interactive live safeguarding session, providing real-time commentary on safeguarding risks and appropriate responses.
For more information, visit Care Show Birmingham 2026.
 People working across adult social care are being encouraged to take part in the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey and share their experiences of working in the sector.
The survey aims to build a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing the adult social care workforce. It covers a range of topics that affect working life, including pay, workload, wellbeing, workplace culture, training and development, and the factors that influence people to stay in or leave adult social care.
Providers and registered managers can support the survey by encouraging frontline staff to take part, making time available for staff to complete it, and sharing their own views through the survey.
The findings will help provide valuable evidence to inform government thinking, future policy development, and support for the adult social care sector. A strong response from frontline workers and care staff will help ensure the experiences of people working across the sector are represented.
Chris Badger, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at CQC, said: “It’s a really important form of evidence for us all in government and across care providers to understand what the real challenges facing the care workforce are, and, crucially, what we can do about them.”
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete.
For our first thematic assessment we are looking at how local authorities support people with sensory impairments, focusing on their experiences and outcomes across the care and support pathway. We will focus on support for people whose primary need for care and support arises from a sensory impairment.
Drawing on evidence from local authority assessments, assurance meetings, national and local data, expert voice and people’s experience, the review will explore access to care and support, assessment and care planning, and the provision of care and support. The methodology will not involve additional assessment activity for local authorities.
We will seek to understand what is working well, identify areas for improvement, and highlight examples of best practice. This work aims to support better outcomes, greater independence and more consistent experiences for people with sensory impairments. We will publish our findings next year.
If you would like to hear more about this work or get involved, please contact SystemsEngagement@cqc.org.uk. We are particularly interested in hearing from organisations that represent people with sensory needs.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is encouraging organisations across adult social care to promote vaccination ahead of this winter.
Vaccination helps protect both people who receive care and those who provide it. Four vaccines are available to help protect against respiratory illnesses: the flu vaccine for eligible children, adults, health and social care workers; the COVID-19 vaccine for eligible adults and children; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for eligible older adults and pregnant women; and pneumococcal vaccine for eligible adults
Providers, managers, colleagues and people who draw on care and support are encouraged to access available information and resources, including leaflets for social care staff and providers and posters and communication toolkits to support vaccine uptake.
Eligible people can access flu and COVID-19 vaccinations through their GP, participating pharmacies, care homes, or by booking through the NHS App. If you work for a local authority, NHS organisation, Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisation, or as a personal care assistant, and wish to help improve vaccine uptake, you can order extra copies for free, or if you want larger quantities, you can call 0300 123 1002 or email publichealthresources@ukhsa.gov.uk.
Further information about RSV vaccination and Pneumococcal vaccination is available on the NHS website.
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Inside CQC: Social care focus a reason for optimismIn this latest Inside CQC article, Chris Badger, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, reflects on the opportunities presented by the renewed Government focus on social care. The article also highlights the importance of person-centred care, improving outcomes for autistic people and people with a learning disability, and ensuring staff receive appropriate learning disability and autism training. Read the full article to explore the key themes and insights for adult social care providers.
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CQC local authority thematic assessments; We've recently assessed all local authorities in England to see how they are delivering their adult social care duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2024. Following the baselining activity, we shared findings and emerging themes in their July 2026 report, | 
