Councillor Keir Pedley, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Walsall Council, will present the report, which highlights progress on the council’s priorities and areas of focus within adult social care. Key achievements over the last 12 months include the launch of a new Pathway to Independence initiative to ensure residents receive support to maximise their independence before there is a need for long-term support, and the service’s recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment.

“ Social care services to adults includes the delivery of social care and support to adults and people with learning and physical disabilities or mental health needs, safeguarding, and arrangements for commissioning adult social care services.

“Our adult social care system is facing growing challenges due to more complex needs, heightened financial pressures and a continual rise in demand for services. It’s important that we provide the right support, at the right time, at the right place, for those who need it.

“Over the last 12 months, we have refined our approach to focus on prevention, early intervention, and developing resilient, self-supporting communities so our residents feel valued and supported to maintain or improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. The work outlined in this report to council shows how we are continuously improving and delivering quality services and improved outcomes for our residents. We are committed to providing a care network that puts the people we support at the heart of everything we do. “

Councillor Keir Pedley, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Walsall Council

The report details several key achievements, which include: 

• Significant investment enabling the development and launch of a Pathway to Independence initiative introducing a new approach to adult social care which aims to support adults to live more independently through person-centred social care.
• Assessment of the council’s adult social care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and completion of CQC’s onsite assessment in August 2025; the CQC inspection outcome is due in early November 2025.
• Partnership working with providers to produce and publish the council’s market position statements for adult social care, which outline current and future care and support needs in Walsall. The market position statements identify gaps and set out the council’s vision and commissioning intentions.
• Working with the consultancy Impower to adopt a new commissioning model and best practices to boost provider engagement, coproduction and quality improvement.
• Recognition of best practice for the council’s Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Programme by Skills for Care. This underlines the council’s commitment and investment in continuous learning and training opportunities for social workers and occupational therapists.
• Implementation of an All-Age Carers Strategy, which focuses on identification of carers and enhancing the support offer.
• A commitment to excellence demonstrated through the council’s Continuous Improvement Programme, which has 16 active projects focused on wellbeing and prevention, strength-based practice for better outcomes, and improved operational resilience. 

Over the last 12 months:

• The council has supported 2,585 people in the community. An increase of 4.1% since 2023/24.
• 77.1% of people in Walsall reported that they felt safe, placing Walsall first in the region and in seventh place nationally.

• From 1 April 2024 to March 2025, 730 assessments were conducted at occupational therapy assistant clinics at the Goscote Centre in Walsall. The introduction of these clinics has significantly reduced waiting times and resulted in more people being supported to remain independent in their own homes for longer.

   

This council meeting takes place on Monday 3 November 2025 and starts at 6pm. It is a public meeting. Details about how the public can access the meeting and associated papers can be found at: https://cmispublic.walsall.gov.uk/cmis/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/4166/Committee/542/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx 

To view the meeting online, visit: http://www.walsallcouncilwebcasts.com/