LGA Responds To LGSCO Annual Review Of Social Care Complaints

Responding to an annual review of social care complaints by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Councils’ priority is supporting people to live the lives they want to lead and therefore take all complaints about adult social care extremely seriously.

“The number of complaints since 2010, which includes people who privately fund their care, has increased but, as the report acknowledges, this may reflect the fact more people are comfortable raising concerns because providers and councils are listening and learning. This is reflected in the fact that the overwhelming majority of local authorities or care providers complied with the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

“The percentage of overall complaints upheld has fallen slightly in the last year, and councils are determined to reduce all complaints over adult social care and ensure high quality and dignified care is delivered to all those who need it.

“However, the stark reality is that the quality and choice of care homes and home care, and people’s experience of social care, will likely get worse, unless immediate action is taken to plug the funding gap facing adult social care that rises to £3.5 billion by 2025.

“Government needs to carefully consider the findings of the LGA’s green paper on adult social care for its own forthcoming Green Paper to secure the long-term future of care and support, and take action in the Local Government Finance Settlement next month to address the immediate crisis in adult social care.”