Bedford Borough Council has promised to continue its improvement plan following a recent assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Council has been rated Requires Improvement, after an assessment that covered nine areas.
However, the report does highlight the dedication of our staff, who deliver care in a strengths-based way , and ensure that services are culturally appropriate. It also highlights that, at the time of the visit, the Council was already working to transform services and to develop its use of data to better understand its performance.
The CQC recognises that the Council has already started working on the key areas for improvement. We will be working with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Local Government Association and other partners on our improvement plan and will be reporting regularly to them on our progress.
The Council will be implementing an improvement plan, and delivery will be monitored by external partners as well as the Council’s leadership and its scrutiny committee as part of the assurance process.
Cllr Robert Rigby, Portfolio Holder for Valuing Families: Adult Services, said; “Whilst we are disappointed with the outcome of the assurance process, we are focused on the future and delivering our improvement plan. I am confident that we will be able to act on the concerns raised in the report.
“I am very proud of the work that our teams do and the support they provide for our residents and those residents can be assured of getting the best possible care."
Kate Walker, Executive Director for Adult Services, said; “I can promise all of our residents that we are already working to transform our services and improve.
“I am very pleased that the skills and dedication of our staff has been recognised, and that we work in a person-centred way to help people stay independent. We will be engaging with our partners and with the Department of Health and Social Care as we continue with our improvement journey.”
The Care Quality Commission is assessing all councils who deliver Adult Social Care on how they meet their duties under the Care Act. This is the first time that this process has been carried out. Bedford Borough Council’s assessment began in April 2025, with a site visit in September.
The CQC’s full report can be found here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports