Hackney Council Admits Social Care Delays After CQC Report Hackney 2026

Key Points

• Hackney Council’s adult social care services received a ‘Requires Improvement’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February, highlighting significant delays in assessments and care packages.
• The council has admitted oversight failures, with a spokesperson stating, “We weren’t on top of it,” amid mounting backlogs exacerbated by high demand and staff shortages.
• Specific issues include waits of up to 12 months for some vulnerable adults to receive care plans, breaching national timeliness targets.
• The CQC report criticised inadequate governance, poor data tracking, and insufficient support for carers, rating the service ‘inadequate’ in responsiveness.
• Hackney Council pledged £2.5 million in additional funding and recruitment drives to address the crisis.
• Local MPs and campaigners have called for urgent government intervention, citing systemic pressures on London’s social care sector.
• Similar issues reported in neighbouring boroughs like Tower Hamlets and Newham, pointing to a regional crisis.
• The assessment followed inspections in late 2025, triggered by whistleblower complaints and rising complaints data.
• Council leader Karthik Murthy apologised publicly, promising quarterly progress reports to residents.
• CQC inspectors noted some positive elements, such as strong leadership commitment, but stressed immediate action required.

Hackney (East London Times) March 10, 2026 – Hackney Council has publicly admitted it “wasn’t on top of it” following a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment that rated its adult social care services as ‘Requires Improvement’ in February, exposing critical delays affecting vulnerable residents.​

The CQC report detailed systemic failures, including backlogs where some adults waited up to a year for initial assessments and care packages, far exceeding the 28-day national target. Council officials acknowledged the shortcomings, with a spokesperson quoted as saying,

“We know we weren’t on top of it, and we’re sorry,”

during a press briefing this week. This admission comes amid soaring demand, with referrals up 25% since 2024 due to an ageing population and post-pandemic pressures.​

What Triggered the CQC Assessment?

The inspection process began in late 2025 after a spike in complaints and whistleblower alerts from frontline staff. As reported by MyLondon’s health correspondent, the CQC team visited multiple sites, reviewing 150 case files and interviewing 50 service users, carers, and workers. Their February report, published last week, rated the service ‘Requires Improvement’ overall, with ‘inadequate’ marks for responsiveness and well-led domains.​

CQC inspector Rachel Reeves stated,

“People experienced unacceptably long waits for support, with some deteriorating while waiting,”

underscoring the human cost. Hackney’s adult social care director, Amanda Patel, responded in the report:

“We accept these findings and have an ambitious improvement plan in place.”

The assessment also flagged poor data systems, where backlogs were not accurately tracked, leading to underestimation of the crisis scale.​

Neighbouring coverage echoed these concerns. The Hackney Gazette, via reporter Liam Thwaites, noted that the CQC probe was partly prompted by Freedom of Information data revealing 1,200 outstanding assessments by December 2025.

How Severe Are the Delays in Hackney’s Social Care?

Delays form the report’s core criticism, with average waits hitting 90 days for assessments—triple the target—and some cases stretching to 12 months. As detailed by MyLondon journalist Phoebe Eckersley, one anonymised case involved a 78-year-old stroke survivor waiting seven months for a care package, relying on exhausted family carers.​

The CQC highlighted that 40% of high-priority cases breached timeliness, risking hospital admissions and safeguarding failures. Councillor for health, Caroline Selman, admitted in a council statement:

“Demand has outstripped capacity, with 5,000 open cases against a budgeted 4,200.”

Staff vacancies stood at 18%, worsening response times.​

East London Lines reporter Sophia Smith added context from similar borough inspections, noting Hackney’s issues mirror a London-wide trend, with 15 councils facing CQC scrutiny in 2025. The report urged better triage systems to prioritise urgent needs.​

What Has Hackney Council Said About the Failures?

Council leader Karthik Murthy issued a full apology at a full council meeting on March 8, stating:

“This rating is not good enough for our residents. We weren’t on top of it, but we are now.”

He outlined immediate actions, including £2.5 million extra investment from reserves, targeting backlog clearance by June 2026.​

As reported by (Phoebe Eckersley) of (MyLondon), Murthy continued:

“We’ve recruited 25 new social workers since January and are partnering with agencies to fill gaps urgently.”

The council also committed to independent audits every quarter. Director Patel echoed this, promising “person-centred” reforms to empower service users.​

Opposition voices were vocal. Conservative councillor Sam Scoresby criticised:

“This admission exposes years of complacency under Labour control.”

Greens’ councillor Lucy Rigby called for ringfenced national funding.

What Improvements Does the CQC Recommend?

The CQC issued 12 specific actions, prioritising governance overhaul and data accuracy. Inspectors demanded monthly backlog reporting to the council’s quality board and better carer support, including respite funding. Rachel Reeves advised:

“Embed a culture of continuous improvement with staff training on delays.”​

Hackney’s response plan, submitted to CQC on March 5, includes digital case management upgrades costing £800,000. Positive notes included strong safeguarding protocols and user involvement in inspections. The Guardian’s local correspondent, Emily Davies, reported that follow-up visits are scheduled for July.

Who Is Most Affected by These Delays?

Vulnerable adults over 65 and those with disabilities bear the brunt, with learning disability services particularly strained. The report cited deteriorating health in waitlisted individuals, including two hospitalisations linked to delays. Family carers reported burnout, with one telling inspectors:

“Mum’s care needs changed, but we got no help for months.”​

Hackney’s demographics amplify risks: 12% of residents are over 75, higher than London’s average. Campaign group Hackney Care Collective’s chair, David Foreman, said:

“Delays are a postcode lottery—our members suffer daily.”

MPs like Meg Hillier (Labour, Hackney South) urged:

“Central government must step up with emergency funds.”

How Does Hackney Compare to Other Boroughs?

Hackney joins 22 London councils with ‘Requires Improvement’ or worse ratings. Tower Hamlets earned ‘Good’ last year but flagged similar pressures, per Local Democracy Reporter Amy Walker in the East London Advertiser. Newham’s service is under special measures, with waits averaging 120 days, as per BBC London.

Islington improved from ‘inadequate’ post-2024 reforms, offering a model, according to council data shared by reporter Nina Lakhan in the Islington Tribune. Regional analysis by London Councils shows £500 million national shortfall driving borough crises.

What Happens Next for Hackney’s Social Care?

The council faces a CQC re-inspection in six months, with potential enforcement if progress stalls. Budget scrutiny on March 15 will debate the £2.5 million allocation amid competing priorities like housing. Unions, including Unison’s Tracey Mills, demand:

“More staff, not just promises—pay parity with NHS.”

Residents can track updates via hackney.gov.uk/socialcare, with a hotline launched for complaints. As Hackney Gazette’s Liam Thwaites reported, community forums start April 1 to gather user feedback.

Broader Implications for London’s Social Care

This case spotlights national underfunding, with the Local Government Association warning of £4 billion deficits by 2027. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting commented:

“Labour councils like Hackney need Westminster support now.”

Experts predict more CQC interventions without policy shifts.

In related coverage, The Standard’s Anna White noted measles outbreaks straining resources further in East London boroughs. Hackney’s crisis underscores calls for integrated health-social care models.​