Healthwatch York is asking residents to share their experiences of waiting for adult social care in a new research project launched on 18 May 2026. Working in partnership with the Administrative Fairness Lab at the University of York, the project aims to gather stories from people who are currently waiting or have recently waited for support, including those who care for someone else in this situation.
This initiative follows a December 2025 report from the Care Quality Commission, which rated the City of York Council adult social care service as requiring improvement. The national regulator identified significant shortfalls in several areas, including the assessment of people’s needs, care provision, and the management of safe pathways and safeguarding systems. Among the key concerns raised by the regulator were long waits for assessments, reviews, and necessary equipment.
In response to these findings, the local authority has developed an improvement plan. The council has committed to a series of actions, which include reducing waiting lists, introducing a new preventive model for accessing services, and enhancing support for individuals with learning disabilities and autism.
The new research project is led by the Administrative Fairness Lab, which is directed by Professor Joe Tomlinson and focuses on how administrative processes affect public services. Researchers hope that by capturing the lived experiences of residents, they can provide useful evidence to support these ongoing improvement efforts in the city.
Residents who wish to take part in an interview about their experience can contact Healthwatch York by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01904 621133.
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