Complaints about adult social care in England rose 22% last year, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).
The LGSCO’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2025-26 received 3,938 complaints and enquiries in 2025-26, with complaints from self-funders in the independent sector up 10% to 368.
Of 904 cases investigated, 77% were upheld, while 99.8% were completed to the Ombudsman's satisfaction. Around a third of upheld complaints against private providers had already been suitably remedied before investigation, up 13% on the previous year.
Ombudsman Amerdeep Clarke welcomed signs of improvement but urged councils and care providers to act on the report's lessons now rather than waiting for wider care system reforms.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: 'Councils continue to work hard to try and ensure people who need it receive safe and high-quality care. Complaints systems form an important part of this process. We are working with councils across England to support this improvement, but reform of adult social care cannot come soon enough.'
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