- Tower Hamlets Council’s Health and Adult Social Care service has achieved a ‘Good’ rating following an inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- The report finds that the service has well-trained staff who are dedicated to the community; strong partnership working; and that there is a focus on reducing inequalities.
- The CQC found an inclusive culture of continuous learning and improvement, with staff encouraged to identify their own development needs.
Tower Hamlets Council’s Health and Adult Social Care service has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The report highlights the council’s commitment to providing high-quality care and support to residents across the borough.
Chris Badger, the CQC’s Chief Inspector, has said that the council has ‘risen to meet the challenges that come with a densely populated borough with significant deprivation.’.
He was also quoted saying: “We saw staff were well trained and carried out assessments focusing on what mattered to people, including their cultural background and communication needs. Around 98% of people could discuss their needs in their preferred language, which is particularly important given the diversity of the local population.”.
The inspection found that people had access to a diverse range of local support services that were“safe, effective, affordable and high-quality”, with strengths-based practice embedded across the service.
Key points from the report include:
- Committed workforce: Staff are“well trained”, “dedicated to the community”, and work collaboratively with partners, providers and local people “in person-centred ways”.
- Leadership: The council has “visible, capable and compassionate” leadership and “an inclusive and positive culture of continuous learning and improvement”.
- Partnership working: Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations were valued and involved in strategic discussions and supported shared knowledge across organisations to meet needs. Residents’ voices were central toplanning of future services.Partners told inspectors that “relationships were mature and strong at a practitioner level which supported joint working to provide the best outcomes for people”.
- Reducing inequalities: The council “prioritised equity within strategic plans and partnerships” and “proactively engaged with the people and groups where inequalities had been identified, to understand and address the specific risks and issues experienced by them.”
- Positive experiences: Overall, people had positive experiences. “People’s experiences of care and support ensured their human rights were respected and protected” and they were “involved throughout in decisions”. People were assessed in a timely way, with minimal waits for Care Act assessments.
- Safeguarding: “Safeguarding processes worked well” and “risks were identified and managed proactively”.
- Support for unpaid carers: There were “robust support options” for unpaid carers, with significantly more carers accessing support than across England.
The rating follows a recent ‘Good’ outcome for the council’s Shared Lives service in 2025.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“I'm delighted that our Health and Adult Social Care service has been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.
“This recognition reflects the dedication, compassion and professionalism of our staff, who work tirelessly to support our residents.
“We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Tower Hamlets can access high quality support that helps them live with dignity, independence and choice.”
Cllr Sabina Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, said:
“This is a fantastic result for the borough and a testament to the hard work of our teams across Health and Adult Social Care.
“I’m especially proud that the CQC recognised our strong partnerships and our focus on reducing inequalities.
“We will continue to build on this foundation, working closely with partners, carers and residents, to further improve the support we provide.”
The full report is available on the CQC website here.
Posted on Wednesday 18th March 2026