Newsroom

31 October 2025

Early improvements visible as part of plan for better adult social care

Blackpool Council has made a number of improvements to create better quality adult social care and create stronger communities in the town.

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Following the report on adult social care from Care Quality Commission published in August, Blackpool Council has created a new Assurance Board, made up of key partners across the council and partner organisations in Blackpool.

Independently chaired by a former executive director of adult social care, health & wellbeing and NHS director, the board also includes membership from elected members, representatives from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Lancashire South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Trinity Hospice, Empowerment and Blackpool Carers Centre to ensure that people who draw on care and support in Blackpool are fully involved in the improvement journey.

An improvement advisor has been appointed by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The board has responsibility to oversee an improvement plan for adult social care.

Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Neal Brookes, added:

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“We are taking this improvement plan exceptionally seriously. “I’ve been really encouraged by the way that everybody involved in social care in Blackpool, from the hospitals, hospices and charities has pulled together to share expertise on how we make sure that our adults receive the best quality care. “We already do many things well. All of our provider services like The Phoenix Centre and The Arc have been rated good and this is about embedding high quality performance and practice into everything we do, so our residents can be confident that their loved ones are supported and properly cared for whenever they need support.”
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Mike Crowther, CEO of Empowerment, who sits on the Assurance Board, added:

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“Empowerment has taken the approach since the announcement of the CQC inspection to work in a pro-active and supportive manner alongside Blackpool Council and other partners to address the issues raised. “The issues highlighted by the CQC were a reflection on us all and the solutions come from us working together in collaboration.”
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Since the outcome of the Care Quality Commission assessment, the council has been working to improve how it responds to people who need care and support and the priority has been to reduce waiting times for Care Act assessments.

There will be an opportunity to hear more about the full membership of the board and improvements to the service going forward through engagement sessions and opportunities for co-producing the next stage of the improvement journey.

Anybody wanting to make contact with adult social care services can visit http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/adultsocialcare or call 01253 477800.

Any comments on Blackpool Council’s adult services can be raised at www.blackpool.gov.uk/comments

The full report into ASC can be found on the Care Quality Commission website.

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