Councils have reported spending 'a huge amount of time and energy' preparing for and undergoing the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) new adult social care assessments.

Following interviews with the five councils that took part in pilot assessments, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said the first local authorities to be formally assessed should be notified as soon as possible given the ‘significant amount of preparatory work’ required.

The LGA also called on the Government to provide new burdens funding for the process and said the ‘implications of underfunding councils' should be considered when ratings are given.

The chief executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Cathie Williams, said: 'The pilots have shown the assurance process takes up a huge amount of time and energy within local authorities, at a time when social care teams are already under pressure with growing numbers of people needing care and support, budgets under severe strain and high levels of vacancies.'

The chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, David Fothergill, said: ‘While councils are very willing to participate in this process, the current precarious position of adult social care must be recognised.’

The CQC’s pilot assessments found that Birmingham City Council, Lincolnshire CC, North Lincolnshire Council and Suffolk CC were ‘ensuring people have access to a good standard of adult social care and support’, while Nottingham City Council ‘requires improvement’ to do so.

Formal assessments are due to begin this month, 'pending government approval', the CQC has said. 

The watchdog said that 'from early December', the first councils would be notified that they will be assessed, asked to complete an information return, and given approximately 9-11 weeks' notice for on-site interviews.