Digital transformation and AI are opening new possibilities for smarter planning, fairer funding decisions, and more proactive models of adult social care.

But there is a foundational challenge standing in the way of all this progress:

Our approach isn’t consistent enough to support the future we need.

Across England, hundreds of different Care Act assessment forms, formats and approaches are in use, creating postcode variation. That inconsistency creates pressure for social workers, frustration for people, and decisions that are harder to explain, defend, evidence for assurance, or learn from. As councils look to strengthen equity, financial sustainability and digital readiness, this inconsistency has become acritical barrier. It also makes it harder to demonstrate consistent, high-quality practice for CQC and external scrutiny. Consistent, person-centred assessments are the strategic foundation for a smarter, fairer, and more resilient adult social care system.

In this webinar, we’ll explore why councils across the country are rethinkingtheir Care Act assessment practice and forms, what happens whenpractice becomes more aligned, and how this shift supports betteroutcomes, stronger assurance, and more defensible decision-making forpeople, social workers, and local authorities alike.

‍Key insights we’ll cover

• Why inconsistency is holding the sector back - how fragmented Care Act assessment practice drives inequity, duplication and gaps in the data councils need for confident decision-making and inspection-ready evidence.

• The transformative potential of standardised, person-centred assessments - enabling fairer outcomes, reducing professional burden, and creating a shared foundation for quality and transparency, and CQC-ready practice.

• How high-quality, consistent data unlocks smarter planning and future readiness - from reliable benchmarking and assurance to predictive analytics and AI.

• Real impact from councils already aligning their assessment practice - including clearer decisions, reduced delays, stronger evidence for assurance and inspection, and measurable financial and operational benefits.

• What a connected, insight-driven assessment journey looks like - and how it can help build a more sustainable, equitable adult social care system.

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This event has now passed - read the insights and watch it on demand here.