The underfunding of adult social care services has meant that the cost of providing care has become an increasingly common theme in complaints against councils, according to a new report.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care, which covers both council and independent care complaints, found that the Ombudsman has received 16% fewer complaints about adult care when compared to 2019-20.

It also found that there has seen a 21% drop in complaints about care arranged and funded independently.

However, the Ombudsman has upheld 70% of the adult social care cases it has investigated – a figure higher than the 66% average uphold rate across all areas it investigates.

The report also noted that there had been more cases where councils are failing to provide care, or are limiting care, ‘while using cost as the justification.’

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: ‘The issues we are investigating are neither new nor surprising, but do indicate a system with a growing disconnect between the care to which people are entitled, and the ability of councils to meet those needs.

‘Care assessments, care planning and charging for care have been key features of our cases this year and a common theme is councils failing to provide care, or limiting it, and justifying this because of the cost. We appreciate budgets are becoming increasingly stretched but authorities’ duties under the Care Act remain and we will continue to hold authorities to account for what they should be doing rather than what they can afford to do.’

Responding to the report, Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘Councils and care providers have worked tirelessly to keep vital care and support services going over the last year and continue to do so, despite significant and worsening financial and workforce challenges. As this report rightfully highlights, a significant number of complaints can be directly attributed to underfunding.

‘It’s positive to see an overall decrease in the number of complaints, and it is right that providers and councils continue to work with the Ombudsman in its investigations to make improvements to their services.

‘However, this report adds to the growing evidence showing how critically underfunded social care is and the consequences of that underfunding. Immediate action needs to be taken by the Government to prevent services worsening further, and that is why we are calling on the Prime Minister to deliver on her promise to give £13bn to social care to rescue the sector.’