Care Quality Commission Says Adult Social Care in North and West Cumbria Needs Improvement

Adult social care services in North and West Cumbria require significant improvements, according to a new assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The watchdog’s review, covering the 2023–24 period, looked at services provided by Cumberland Council, which supports around 4,465 adults per 100,000 people with long-term social care needs. The council’s total spending on these services during that time was £104.35 million.
Overall, the CQC found “shortfalls” in key areas of care delivery. Inspectors highlighted several concerns, including:
Access to information: Care users sometimes struggled to get information in formats that worked for them, such as easy-read versions, and access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters was limited in some parts of the region.
Staffing pressures: The council has relied on agency staff to fill gaps, but many of these workers were not local and lacked area-specific knowledge.
Community engagement: The authority acknowledged it needs to do more to connect with seldom-heard communities and better understand their support needs.
Delays in legal safeguards: A significant backlog in Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations was identified, increasing the risk of people being restricted unlawfully.
Despite these issues, inspectors also noted some positive aspects. Many people reported satisfaction with their care and felt they had choice and control in their daily lives. Leadership within the service was described as visible and supportive, and young people transitioning from children to adult services were generally supported safely.
CQC emphasised that Cumberland Council is on an “improvement journey” and understands where development is needed, with resources being directed toward better outcomes.
Cumberland Council welcomed the CQC’s findings, stating the inspection had begun over a year earlier and that many of the issues raised had already been recognised in the council’s own self-assessment. The authority outlined steps being taken to improve access to information, strengthen staffing, enhance community engagement, and address delays in legal safeguards.