An inquiry has been launched to examine how people can challenge decisions made by local councils about adult social care.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission will explore if decisions about social can be meaningfully challenged if they fall short, and if this process is accessible and effective.

The Commission said it had launched the inquiry after a number of organsiations working with disabled and older people raised concerns about complaining about or challenging decisions related to their social care.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of Commission, said: 'We know that the social care system has been under significant pressure and many problems have been exacerbated by the pandemic. With vital decisions about people’s care being made under such pressure, it is essential that there are effective ways to challenge them if people feel they have been left without the support they need.

'That is why we are using our legal powers to launch this inquiry, to help make sure that everyone can live a dignified life and that people can speak up if they feel a decision has left them without the right care.'

The inquiry will examine how people can challenge a decision they feel is wrong, if there is effective systems in place to check the quality of decision-making, and whether local councils learn from challenges to improve decision-making in future.