Each month we round up the key developments shaping adult social care, from workforce updates to sector-wide reports. Here are the highlights you may have missed in September:

 

NHS England launches focused LeDeR reviews
The Learning from Lives and Deaths (LeDeR) programme has expanded to include new focused reviews for people with learning disabilities and autism. This aims to strengthen insights into avoidable health inequalities and ensure lessons are translated into meaningful change. For providers, the initiative reinforces the importance of closer collaboration with health services and of embedding proactive approaches to reduce disparities in care outcomes.

Check out the full report here

 

Adult social care fees rise across England
The Department of Health and Social Care has released its Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund 2025–26 reporting, showing widespread increases in provider fees across adult social care. While the rises reflect necessary adjustments to cover inflationary and workforce pressures, they also raise serious concerns about commissioning sustainability and the affordability of services for local authorities. This could further sharpen the debate on long-term funding models and highlight the need for a more stable financial settlement for the sector.

Check out the full report here

 

Three-minute test for early Alzheimer’s
Researchers have unveiled a quick and non-invasive ‘Fastball’ EEG test that can help identify people at higher risk of Alzheimer’s in just three minutes. If adopted, this innovation could reshape approaches to early diagnosis and prevention, but it also raises key questions for adult social care about workforce readiness, training in new technologies, and the integration of diagnostic advances into care pathways. The sector may need to prepare for increased demand for preventative services alongside traditional models of support.

Check out the full report here

 

Concerns over Terminally Ill Adults Bill
Care England hosted a ‘snap survey’ across 122 care providers to gauge awareness, preparedness and views on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Bill seeks to strengthen support for people with terminal illnesses in community and care settings, but providers fear the lack of adequate resources, staffing, and training could leave them overstretched. For adult social care, this highlights the urgent need for clarity around funding, workforce planning, and partnership with health services if new legal duties are introduced.

Check out the full report here

 

Cross-party consensus urged on reform
The Casey Commission has renewed calls for cross-party cooperation on long-term social care reform, with early talks gaining traction across political lines. The National Care Forum has welcomed this move, stressing that political consensus is vital to achieving sustainable, sector-wide change. For providers, this could signal a shift towards stability and clearer long-term direction, but the outcome will depend on whether government and opposition are prepared to set aside differences and commit to shared priorities for care.

Check out the full report here | NCF response here

 

“Who Cares?” report calls for action
The Social Care Foundation has published its latest report, Who Cares?, which calls for adult social care to be treated as a national priority. The report highlights the need to put dignity, sustainability, and innovation at the centre of reform, pointing to the growing urgency of addressing workforce shortages and demographic pressures. For the sector, this report provides both a stark warning and a rallying point, reinforcing the case for long-term investment and a cultural shift in how care is valued.

Check out the full report here