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Inspectors visited Blackpool in March 2025 to assess the processes Blackpool Council has in place to support vulnerable adults requiring social care.
Blackpool Council’s rating has been formed from judgements across different care and quality areas. Overall, services have been rated as inadequate.
The inspectors didn’t find any evidence of adults being unsafe.
The judgement means that the CQC deemed at the time of its assessment that our safeguarding systems, processes and practices were not always effective.
Work to address the findings and conduct rapid improvements has already started.
An improvement plan is being created, scrutinised by an independent improvement board which is meeting already.
Cllr Neal Brookes, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “This report is a difficult read and we take the findings exceptionally seriously.
“Adults in Blackpool deserve the highest quality of care when they need it and I am committed to putting the processes in place to make sure that happens.
“There are areas of good work highlighted in the report, including the care and passion of our staff. In fact Blackpool Council performs well and above average in most of the government’s surveys looking at adult social care performance, including people’s satisfaction of care.
“But there are also areas where we need to improve and do better. We won’t shy away from the work we need to do. Our independently chaired improvement board is already meeting and we will be assessing each risk that has been raised by the CQC and addressing it.
“It is very important to note that the inspectors found no evidence to suggest adults were unsafe.
“Our staff have focused on keeping people safe and solving their immediate problems, but we need to do more to work with people to create care packages that are tailored to them.
“Care users will be at the heart of our improvement journey and their lived experience as recipients of our care will shape our future actions and processes
“Blackpool has an above average number of adults requiring care, but below average funding to deliver that support. While the funding deficit is not an excuse for having the right processes in place, the demand for adult social care services will continue to grow in the near future as our population gets older. With that aging population brings even more pressure on our processes and staff.”
Blackpool Council has informed key stakeholders of this judgement, including the independent chair of Blackpool’s Safeguarding Adults Board.
The Safeguarding Adults Board includes key partners involved in protecting adults across the town, including the NHS trusts, police, fire service, ambulance service and others. Its role is to ensure all parties work together to ensure vulnerable people are protected and safe.
Stephen Chapman, Independent Chair of the Blackpool Safeguarding Adults Board, added: “I have received a copy of this inspection report and read it in full.
“There are areas of concern and work to do to improve processes. However, I have spoken to the council about the improvement plans. I have confidence that the council is committed to putting the foundations in place to correct the concerns raised, and the board is ready to play its part in supporting the improvement plan.”
The improvement plan will take a thorough look at every risk raised in the report and address them in priority order.
Work has already started along a series of improvement actions. This will include:
- Strengthening leadership and a dedicated Principal Social Worker has already been appointed.
- Increasing senior management oversight and convening an Improvement Board with members from across the partnership and people and their carers who use the service.
- Embedding strength-based practice across all assessment and intervention pathways.
- Increasing the way people needing care and support, as well as unpaid carers, can help shape and create their care package.
- Improving safeguarding training, audit, and the introduction of a new quality assurance framework.
- Reducing waiting times for assessments and reviews.
- Improving data quality and performance monitoring to improve oversight on frontline practice and outcomes
The report did indicate that satisfaction with care in Blackpool is above the national average, with 90% of people telling the inspectors that they felt safe.
The full report can be read on the CQC website.