The Care and Support Alliance has responded to the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s first national assessment of adult social care provided by local authorities in England.

The report, based on assessments of 143 local authorities carried out between 2023 and 2026, found that 35% of councils require improvement, 2% are rated inadequate, and just 3% are rated outstanding, while 60% were judged to be good. It highlights significant variation in people’s experiences depending on where they live, with concerns including long waits for assessments, reviews, services and equipment, inconsistent support for unpaid carers, weaknesses in safeguarding in some areas, and poor transitions from children’s to adult services.

The CQC concluded that while many councils are delivering good services despite significant pressures, there is too much unwarranted variation in adult social care across England and called for stronger national standards to ensure people can expect consistently high-quality support regardless of where they live.

Responding to the report, CSA Co-chairs Caroline Abrahams, Emily Holzhausen and Jackie O’Sullivan said:

“No one should face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting the care and support they need. This report confirms what too many older and disabled people and unpaid carers already know – where you live can have a huge impact on whether you get help, how quickly you get it, and the quality of support you receive.

“This isn’t because councils don’t care or aren’t working hard. Many local authorities are delivering good services despite years of rising demand, increasingly complex needs, workforce shortages and chronic underinvestment. But they cannot keep being asked to do more with less.

“Long waits for assessments, inconsistent support for unpaid carers, poor transitions for disabled young people and weaknesses in safeguarding are not just system failures – they have real consequences for people’s independence, health and dignity.

“Strong local leadership matters, but it cannot compensate for a system that has been stretched to breaking point. Councils need a sustainable national funding settlement and a clear long-term plan for reform.

“The Casey Commission presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a social care system that is fair, sustainable and consistent across the country. This report shows exactly why we cannot afford to delay.”