Adult Social Care Insights, Governance & Quality Improvement

I'm on holiday in Greece, answering emails and taking calls, despite being my own boss! Why is switching off so difficult for care managers, even when nobody has actually asked us to stay available?

This week’s Adult Social Care Briefing covers new dementia research investment, Skills for Care workforce training, developments in AI regulation, telecare safety guidance and CQC inspection findings, with practical implications for adult social care providers.

I once worked in a dementia service that had a workshop, with tools and practical activities. When we were going through the registration process, I was asked whether that was really safe considering the client group. I remember being so irritated by the question, because it seemed to start from the assumption that dementia somehow made the whole idea questionable! The person who asked me with real shock, did not know if the people who would use the space had been working wit

A service can improve quickly when everyone is watching. The harder test is whether those changes last once the extra scrutiny, support and pressure begin to step back. This is a reflection on what sustainable improvement really looks like and a lesson I learned the hard way.

This week’s Adult Social Care Briefing covers the 30 September Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag deadline, the Independent Commission’s new Public Panel on Care, and forthcoming national adult social care activity and finance data. Practical updates for providers, with the key actions and dates leaders need to have on their radar.

Episode 2 of Beyond the Audit explores how poor practice can gradually become normalised through shortcuts, workarounds and small compromises and why good governance means understanding what actually happens when things get busy.

This week’s Adult Social Care Briefing covers the new MHRA hoist and sling safety alert, adult social care transformation funding, the 2026 workforce survey and the latest ADASS funding position, with practical actions for providers.

What happens when managing a difficult situation turns into treating someone badly? A look at suspension, isolation, workplace culture and the impact on staff, residents and families.

Issue 010 | 3 September 2026 A weekly briefing highlighting significant developments affecting leaders of adult social care services for older people in England, with a focus on what providers need to know and what they should be considering in practice. This Week’s Headline DBS Publishes New Eligibility Guidance for Adult Social Care Roles The Disclosure and Barring Service published new eligibility guidance on 1 September 2026, alongside an updated version of its guidance s

How does poor practice become “just how we do things here”? A look at how everyday pressures, shortcuts and workplace culture can gradually shape care, and why good governance needs to spot the patterns before they become the norm.

This week’s Adult Social Care Briefing looks at NICE’s new consultation on aggressive behaviour in people receiving NHS or social care, alongside CQC’s latest local authority assessments. Key themes include restrictive practice, risk management, safe transitions, system pressures and what these developments mean in practice for care-home leaders.

When too much knowledge, judgement and follow-through sits with one person, a service can look strong while still being surprisingly fragile. Succession planning is not just about who might take over next; it is about developing people, sharing judgement and building enough leadership depth before you actually need it.

This week’s Adult Social Care Briefing looks at the practical implications of hot weather for care home leaders, alongside forthcoming changes to NHS hospital discharge reporting. A concise update on resident risk, safe admissions and the key actions providers should be considering

What happens in the first 24 hours after a significant incident can shape everything that follows. This article explores leadership, governance, Duty of Candour and why good organisations put people first when it matters most.

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing explores what the Workforce Strategy means for providers, alongside current CQC assessment priorities and the leadership actions organisations should be considering.

The Journey of Leadership A few years ago, someone told me they didn't think they were management material. They had lost confidence, and others began to doubt whether leadership was the right path for them. When I got to know them, I saw something different. I saw someone who genuinely cared about people, wanted to do the right thing, listened carefully, and was willing to learn. More than anything, they simply needed someone to believe in them. Today, they're an excellent m

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing explores the Government's Fair Pay Agreement proposals, the expanded Care Workforce Pathway and the appointment of CQC's new Chief Executive, with practical insights for providers.

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing reviews the latest CQC and ADASS publications, explaining what has changed, why it matters and the practical implications for adult social care providers.

A personal reflection on trust, culture and why the conversations that matter most often begin after the meeting has ended

Different providers. Different services. Different inspectors. Yet the same themes continue to appear. Why do medicines, care planning, oversight and record keeping remain recurring findings in Requires Improvement reports?