A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report published today (Wednesday 5 August) has found that Manchester City Council’s adult social care services are Good.
The CQC’s local authority assessment for Manchester, the first of its kind under a new system, scored the Council’s services at 72% - making it the highest rating for any of the England’s biggest cities outside London.
Together with Manchester’s Children’s Services being rated Outstanding in their most recent Ofsted inspection last year, the finding underlines the Council’s commitment to delivering high quality services.
Adult social care provides support to citizens ranging from young adults to people who are in the later years of their lives. Adult social care works with vulnerable adults who have physical, learning disabilities, and mental health needs.
Last year (2025/26) 9,937 people received long-term adult social care support, which includes support in people’s own homes, as well as support to people in Care Homes, Extra Care schemes and supported living. Another 6,232 were accessing short-term care through services such as reablement, equipment and adaptations which support people to regain independence.
Strengths highlighted in the CQC report include timely assessments for most people, with the starting point of all assessments being what is important to the individual and what they want to achieve. Effective early support was also praised as well as good access to support (most people can get the help they need when, where and how they need it); good partnership working; a commitment to tacking inequalities; strong leadership and good morale among staff.
The strength of adult social care services reflects the Council’s long-term commitment to improvement and transformation in adult social care most recently via the Achieving Better Outcomes Together Strategy, which places a particular emphasis on providing early support to Manchester people who would benefit from it to prevent or delay them needing long-term care. With funding challenges ongoing, this approach is not just better for the individuals who are supported but also helps contain costs.
The assessment also identified some areas for development, which the Council will be prioritising as part of wider continuous improvement and transformation plans. For example, people with complex needs are currently more likely to wait for longer and be provided with services outside the city boundary than those with less complex needs. Partner agencies say that feedback on the outcomes and actions arising from section 42 (safeguarding) enquiries could be improved, and more work needs to be done to ensure the quality of such enquiries is embedded across all services.
Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care, said:
“Adult social care might not always be the most visible council service but it provides vital support to thousands of Manchester people – in very many cases supporting them to live independent and fulfilling lives.
“I am proud that the care we provide has been recognised as Good – and solidly good – in this painstaking assessment by the Care Quality Commission. This hasn’t happened by accident but as a result of concerted focus and investment in adult social care over recent years.
“For those who need that support, or have loved-ones who do, this rating should provide considerable reassurance about the standard of care which is on offer.
“While very pleased with the overall findings, there is always room for further improvement and in that spirit we are continuing to work on making our services even better.”
The full assessment report can be read at Local authority assessment reports - Care Quality Commission