With formal CQC inspections planned to start across local authorities more widely in early 2024, we wanted to showcase the work Sunderland City Council has undertaken to automate their feedback process – engaging regularly with ASC service users, carers, families & advocates – at scale.

Feedback from the CQC ’Test & Learn’ phase was that councils identified: “One of the main challenges for all of us is how we better get the views of people who use our services.” Contact&Connect: CQC is a proven way of engaging with ASC service users, widening access, contacting seldom heard groups, and allowing councils to easily compare, collate, understand and evidence their lived experience and wider ASC feedback.

To explain it all simply and effectively, we’ve created a short e-magazine reminiscent of a ‘PhotoLove’ story – for those of you who remember Photo Love & Jackie – a sort of graphic novel style. It’s a 2-minute read and clearly shows you the value of the Contact&Connect approach – read it here: