Hackney Council Slammed by CQC for 2-Year Care Delays 2026

Key Points

• Hackney Council’s adult social care services rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in report published on Friday, February 6, 2026.​
• Some residents waited up to two years for care needs assessments, particularly those deemed lower risk.​
• Most people requesting remote assessments received contact on the first day, but communication was not always clear, leaving some unsure of next steps.​
• Carers reported not always understanding available support, though they were involved in improvements like developing a carers’ strategy.​
• People with complex needs, including those with learning disabilities, lacked sufficient support; over half (58%) of learning disability residents needing residential care lived outside London.​
• CQC Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, Chris Badger, highlighted these issues.​
• Hackney Council achieved the highest score (62) within the ‘Requires Improvement’ banding despite a 40% demand increase since 2020.​
• Strengths include person-centred care, equity and anti-racism embedding, robust triage for urgent needs, strong partnerships, and transparency.​
• Council response from Cllr Chris Kennedy emphasises ongoing improvements and positive ASCOF scores, with resident satisfaction at 61.4% above London average.​
• Report to be discussed at Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission.​

Hackney (East London Times) February 10, 2026 – An independent watchdog has found Hackney’s adult social care services in need of improvement after discovering some residents endured waits of up to two years for assessments of their care needs. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its latest findings on Friday, February 6, 2026, rating the borough’s social care offering as ‘Requires Improvement’.​

What Did the CQC Inspection Reveal?

As reported by MyLondon, the CQC inspection uncovered significant delays in assessments for lower-risk cases, with some people waiting up to two years. Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, Chris Badger, stated that while most individuals requesting remote social care assessments received contact from Hackney Council on the first day, lower-risk cases faced prolonged waits. Mr Badger said:

“Hackney didn’t always communicate clearly with people, which left some unsure about what would happen next”.​

Carers expressed confusion over available support, as noted in the MyLondon coverage. Mr Badger added:

“Carers told us they didn’t always understand what support was available to them”.

However, the report acknowledged positive carer involvement, including in developing a carers’ strategy shaped by their priorities.​

People with complex needs received inadequate assistance, according to the CQC findings reported by MyLondon. More than half (58%) of individuals with learning disabilities requiring residential care resided outside London, highlighting support gaps.

How Has Hackney Council Responded to the Criticism?

In its official response, as published on the Hackney Council news site, the council noted its adult social care services received ‘Requires Improvement’ with a score of 62, the highest possible within that category. Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, said:

“We welcome this report as a fair and honest reflection of where we are on our journey. While our goal is always to achieve the highest possible rating, I am pleased the CQC recognised the quality of our staff’s work”.​

Cllr Kennedy further stated:

“We achieved the highest score within our current rating, I am really pleased that our most recent ASCOF scores give further evidence of the positive impact that our work delivers for vulnerable adults in Hackney and shows we are on the right track, especially given the 40% increase in demand we’ve seen for our support since 2020. However, we aren’t complacent. We are working tirelessly to fix what we need. Our latest data already shows us ranking 5th in London for quality of life, and we will keep pushing until that excellence is felt by every resident and carer in Hackney”.​

The council highlighted progress despite challenges from a 40% demand surge post-COVID-19 and a data theft incident. Resident satisfaction stands at 61.4%, surpassing the London average of 60.7%, per recent Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) scores.​

What Strengths Were Praised in the Report?

The CQC report, as detailed in Hackney Council’s response, commended embedding equity and anti-racism across services. Inspectors observed that residents reported positive experiences, feeling listened to, with their identities and communities respected during assessments.​

Additional praises included robust triage and duty arrangements for urgent needs, strong partnerships with local providers and health organisations, and openness in learning from challenges. The assessment followed the new regulatory framework under the Care Act 2014.​

MyLondon’s coverage aligns with these positives, noting carer involvement in strategy development despite communication issues.​

What Improvement Actions Is the Council Taking?

Hackney Council is launching a new Preparing for Adulthood service and reforming commissioning for supported living, residential care, and Direct Payments. Plans involve enhancing website information, piloting joint health initiatives to cut waiting times, and simplifying carer support access.​

The full report will go before the Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission for public discussion and integration into long-term strategy.​

Why Are Delays Happening in Hackney’s Social Care?

The MyLondon article attributes delays primarily to unclear communication and prioritisation of higher-risk cases, with lower-risk residents waiting up to two years. Chris Badger of the CQC pointed to inconsistent support for complex needs.​

Council sources link pressures to a 40% demand rise since 2020, exacerbated by pandemic effects and cyber theft of council data. Despite this, the council ranks fifth in London for quality of life metrics.​

How Does Hackney Compare to Other Councils?

While specific to Hackney, similar CQC ‘Requires Improvement’ ratings have hit other areas; for instance, Ealing Council faced assessment delays averaging 17 weeks due to staff shortages, as reported by North West Londoner. York Council dealt with safeguarding gaps and delays, per BBC News.

Hackney’s top score in its band (62 out of 39-62) positions it relatively better, with ASCOF indicators outperforming London averages.​

What Do Residents and Carers Say?

CQC inspectors noted positive resident feedback on feeling respected and heard. However, MyLondon quoted carers feeling unclear on support options. No direct resident quotes appear in sourced materials, but overall experiences varied, with strengths in person-centred approaches.

What Is the Broader Context of CQC Inspections?

The CQC is accelerating local authority assessments, completing over 5,000 since April 2025, ahead of the 9,000 target by September 2026. Hackney’s inspection falls under this intensified scrutiny.

Past issues, like a 2017 Local Government Ombudsman ruling on Hackney’s delays in funding care fees, underscore recurring challenges. A 2021 case found fault in delayed assessments.

When Will Improvements Be Seen?

Hackney Council anticipates benefits from ongoing actions like new services and pilots, with scrutiny commission review ensuring accountability. CQC Chief Inspector Chris Badger expects progress through identified plans.​

The council vows no complacency, targeting excellence amid rising demand.