CQC Warns of Gridlocked Services for Learning Disabilities and Autism: What This Means and How Personalised Care Can Help

A new State of Care review from the Care Quality Commission, highlighted by Disability Rights UK, has issued a stark warning about the current condition of health and social care services in England. 

According to the CQC, the system is “gridlocked and unable to operate effectively”, leaving many people without the timely and appropriate support they need. 
For individuals with learning disabilities and autism, the challenges are even more pronounced, with serious barriers to accessing assessments, tailored care, and essential community-based services.

The CQC’s findings show that access to care continues to be difficult and inconsistent. 

Many people still face significant delays in securing assessments or receiving the right level of support. 

The review also highlights concerns around the recording and use of demographic data related to disability, making it harder for commissioners and providers to plan effectively for future needs. 
Alongside this, workforce shortages are intensifying pressures across the sector. 
Large numbers of skilled staff are leaving for jobs that offer better pay and conditions, creating a cycle in which demand grows while capacity shrinks.

Disability Rights UK has noted that these insights reflect the day-to-day experiences of disabled people and their families. 

They describe a system in which long waits have become normal, support is fragmented and overstretched, and people are increasingly being pushed into crisis before help becomes available. 
Their full commentary can be found on the Disability Rights UK website: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/.

The organisation is urging the government to take meaningful action in the upcoming autumn budget. 
They argue that without substantial and sustained investment in health and social care, the situation will deteriorate further, with devastating consequences for individuals who rely on these services to live independently, stay safe and maintain their wellbeing.

For people with learning disabilities and autism, this situation has very real and immediate effects. 
When the system is gridlocked, families are often left waiting for assessments, waiting for support packages, and waiting for services that simply cannot keep up with rising demand. These delays not only reduce quality of life, but also increase the likelihood of breakdowns in care, avoidable hospital admissions and greater pressure on emergency services.

This is where personalised approaches such as Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) become increasingly important. 
PHBs give individuals and families more control over their care. Instead of relying solely on traditional commissioned services, they can recruit their own personal assistants, shape their day-to-day support and build arrangements that genuinely reflect their needs, preferences and routines. 
More information about PHBs is available on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk.

At HomeCareDirect, we see first-hand how transformative this level of control can be. 
Our work with people with complex needs focuses on helping them design and manage their own support through PHBs. 
Families can choose support workers who understand their loved one’s communication style, sensory needs and personal goals. 
They can build flexible support plans that adapt when circumstances change. 
Most importantly, they can avoid being trapped in long waiting lists for services that may not be available for months.

Our team helps people recruit trusted personal assistants, navigate the responsibilities of being an employer, and coordinate their ongoing care in a way that reduces strain on overstretched services. 
By supporting individuals to take ownership of their care, we help improve quality of life while also contributing to a more sustainable and person-centred system.

As the CQC warns of increasing gridlock, it is clear that the sector needs investment, planning and workforce stability. 
But alongside this, empowering people through personalised care models can offer a vital lifeline. 
For many families, especially those supporting someone with learning disabilities or autism, taking control through a Personal Health Budget is not just a choice; it is a practical, effective solution in a system struggling to keep pace with demand.