Lewisham care services fall short of ‘Good’ rating

By the AtheneNet news desk

Lewisham’s adult social care services scored 59 in a Care Quality Commission assessment, leaving them four points short of the threshold described by the council as a “Good” result. For residents, the findings present a mixed picture: inspectors identified strong safeguarding and effective support for independence, but also delays, unequal access and gaps in help for unpaid carers.

The score is a snapshot rather than a measure of every resident’s experience. Lewisham Council says the inspection took place nearly a year before its response and that the assessment material was compiled in October 2025. Some corrective work has therefore begun, although the source does not provide updated performance figures for most of the identified weaknesses.

Delayed assessments can affect access to support

The most immediate concerns involve people waiting for assessments or reviews. These processes determine a resident’s needs and whether existing care remains appropriate, so delays can leave people without timely decisions about their support.

The report also found that some residents did not feel fully involved in decisions about their care. Inspectors called for more consistent access across the borough and better support for people with complex needs, particularly when they require the right service at the right time.

Unpaid carers were another focus. The council acknowledged that access to information, advice and direct support needed to improve. It has since appointed additional staff to assess and assist carers, reporting a significant rise in the proportion who found information and advice easy to access. No percentage or comparison period was supplied, limiting how far that improvement can be assessed.

Safeguarding and independence were among the strengths

The assessment credited Lewisham adult social care services with strong safeguarding arrangements and a well-established safeguarding partnership. These systems are intended to identify and respond when an adult may be experiencing abuse, neglect or other risks.

Occupational therapy and enablement teams were also praised. Some residents described their support as “life-enhancing,” according to the council’s account of the findings. Their work focuses on helping people manage daily activities and retain or regain independence.

Inspectors highlighted clear assessment and hospital-discharge pathways supported by collaboration between different organisations. Person-centred, strengths-based practice was another positive finding, alongside prevention and early intervention intended to reduce or delay the need for hospital stays.

Staff told inspectors that they were proud to serve Lewisham residents. The report linked their work to several of the service’s recognised strengths despite increasing demand and financial pressure cited by the council.

Unequal access and limited data remain concerns

Beyond waiting times, the assessment identified a need to ensure residents can access services equally. The source does not specify which communities experienced the greatest barriers, so it is not possible to determine from the council’s response where the sharpest inequalities occurred.

Inspectors also called for better use of data to shape and monitor services. Weak or inconsistent information can make it harder to identify unmet needs, track whether reviews are happening on time or judge whether different groups receive comparable support.

The council says it has continued reviewing its data to make it clearer and easier to use. Internal communications have also been changed so staff have a better understanding of the support available to residents.

Gateway changes target the first point of contact

Lewisham Council has made changes to its Gateway Service, which handles people’s initial contact with adult social care. The stated aim is to provide better help at the beginning of a resident’s interaction with the service, when needs and possible next steps are first identified.

Cllr Samantha Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, said the new administration would prioritise prevention, early intervention, accessibility and a stronger resident voice. She also linked pressures on the service to past reductions in local government funding and said the council would seek increased national funding.

Mental health social work returns to the council in September

A further structural change is scheduled for September 2026, when Lewisham’s mental health social work service is due to return to direct council control. The council expects this to improve the availability and consistency of data, with particular attention to safeguarding, Care Act assessments and reviews.

The next CQC score is not stated. Gardiner said the council intends to use the work on carers, data and resident involvement to secure a higher rating in a future assessment.

Source: Lewisham Council