Liberal Democrats Call for Executive Member for Adult Social Care To Consider Stepping Aside Following Damning CQC Report

The Liberal Democrat Group on City of York Council is calling for the Executive Member for Adult Social Care to consider stepping aside following the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s highly critical assessment of York’s adult social care services. 

The independent report found York’s adult social care system facing significant leadership issues, worsening oversight, and declining public confidence. It highlighted a lack of clear political direction, weaknesses in planning, gaps in safeguarding oversight, and the failure to deliver key strategies that were expected to improve services in 2023 and 2024. 

The CQC’s findings present a troubling picture of a service being let down by political leadership. Dedicated staff, social workers, care providers and unpaid carers continue to work incredibly hard (often under tremendous pressure) but they have not had the stable leadership and accountability they need and deserve. 

The CQC highlighted:

• A lack of coordinated strategy in adult social care.

• Failure to deliver key strategies that concluded in 2023.

• People losing confidence in the Council’s political leadership.

• Weak oversight of safeguarding, potentially leaving vulnerable people at risk.

• Poor planning and lack of evaluation affecting trust among staff and partners. 

Liberal Democrat Adult Social Care spokesperson, Cllr Carol Runciman, said: 

“This report is damning. It reflects what residents, unpaid carers and frontline staff have been telling us for months: Labour’s leadership of adult social care is not providing the direction needed. 

“Staff across the sector work tirelessly and with compassion, and they need political leadership that supports their dedication. Instead, they have been left without the clarity and stability they require. 

“Residents deserve councillors who take responsibility when things go wrong. If Labour are committed to rebuilding trust in care services, then the Executive Member should consider stepping aside.” 

Cllr Paul Healey, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Finance, added: 

“We’ve been telling Labour for years that holding vacancies open is not a way to budget. Now the CQC has laid bare the human cost of this flawed approach. 

“When you strip out capacity and leadership to balance the books, you inevitably end up with poor oversight, slower services and worse outcomes for residents. The report makes this painfully clear.”