This page provides an overview of social care in Isle of Wight, along with key metrics that could affect social care. Understanding these metrics is important because they help contextualise the challenges with social care provision in each local authority. These statistics are important to keep in mind when reviewing the other pages.
Why are these metrics important? Population size and density can affect the demand for social care services. For example, if a local authority has a high population (relative to other areas), it may need to allocate more resources to meet care needs. Similarly, areas with high population density may require more care services due to the increased number of people living in close proximity. Inversely, areas with a low population density may have fewer care needs, but residents may face challenges accessing services due to the distance between them. Lastly, people in rural areas might live further away from services, which can impact their ability to access care, or make it more expensive to provide.
Understanding these metrics can help local authorities plan and allocate resources effectively.
Deprivation decile is a measure of the level of deprivation in a local authority. It is calculated by ranking areas in England from 1 (most deprived) to 10 (least deprived) based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A higher decile indicates lower levels of deprivation, while a lower decile suggests higher levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation levels can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Isle of Wight
Deprivation rank is a measure of the relative deprivation of a local authority compared to other areas in England. It is calculated by ranking areas from 1 (most deprived) to 32,844 (least deprived) Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA), which can be thought of as “small areas”. This rank is based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A lower rank indicates higher levels of deprivation, while a higher rank suggests lower levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation ranks can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Isle of Wight
Many people want care, some receive care, but a significant number go without. What types of care are being requested? What care is actually provided? This section explores the gap between need and provision, the types of care available, and how our own data contributes to the understanding of these challenges.
Access Social Care and other Helplines providers are working to bridge this gap by providing free legal support to people who are struggling to access social care services. This first chart illustrates the types of calls we are getting.
The rest of this page distingushes between the different types of care provided to Working Age People and Older People, as we are able to disaggregate at a greater level of granularity.
Note: these values are a work in progress… expect these numbers to go up
This plot shows a breakdown of the types of requests for assistance received by Access Social Care and other helplines. Understanding the themes of these calls can identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of calls related to housing may indicate a need for more affordable housing options, while a high number of calls related to social care assessments may suggest a need for improved access to care services. The request types are:
Assessments: An assessment is a meeting or form to find out what help someone needs with daily tasks.
Care Plan: A care plan is a written agreement that lists the support you’ll get and who to contact if things change.
Carers: Carers are people who help a disabled or ill person with daily tasks.
Charging: Charging refers to checking if you can afford to pay for some of your care based on your savings.
Information Seeking: Information seeking means getting advice about available care options.
Legal Issues and Complaints: Legal issues and complaints involve reporting problems with your care to the council or an ombudsman.
Safeguarding: Safeguarding is protecting people from abuse or neglect.
Of course, high numbers also mean that people know where to call, and this number can be impacted by advocacy efforts. As a counterpoint, areas with low numbers may indicate a lack of awareness of available services or a need for more outreach to connect people with support.
To protect privacy, our minimum bin size is 5, which means that if we field 1-5 queries on a topic, we display 5.
Are you a helpline and would like to combine data resources? Let us know!
Access Social Care casework, AccessAva data, and helpline partner submissions
Working Age People
Knowing how many people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of people are disabled helps understand need and social care provision at a top level. For example, a high number of people requesting care may indicate a need for additional resources or services, while a low number of people receiving care may suggest a gap in service provision. Understanding these metrics can help identify areas where additional support may be needed.
MW was diagnosed with Functional Chronic Pain, she cannot walk without support, she holds on to her furniture to move around the house. She uses a wheelchair, especially when she goes out, with support from friends and family. She lives on second floor with 5 flights because of the way the building is designed and there is no lift. She never goes out because of the difficulties she experiences with the stairs. She needs help with cooking, cleaning, shopping and showering. She relies on friends and her mum who has knee replacement.
She was referred by the Social Prescriber who referred her onto also referred her to Croydon Adult Support, they told her they are short of staff to allocate her a social worker, so she was placed on a long waiting list. MW case still hadn’t progressed until the Social Prescriber, who had been recently trained on the Care Act, referred her to Access Social Care’s free legal Chatbot letter clinic.
The legal clinic volunteer completed a letter to Croydon Council with MW within a week which was sent to Adult Social Services. Access Social Care then called her after two weeks to complete a follow up survey. MW informed them that she had had an assessment and was waiting to hear back from Croydon following the panel meeting. Social Services has now done the assessment after which the panel offered MW 9 hours of social care support.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
This plot shows the types of care provided to working-age people in Isle of Wight. Understanding the types of care available can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving personal care may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a high number of people receiving respite care may suggest a need for additional support for carers.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
The Isle of Wight records an age-standardised disability rate of 21.3 per cent, well above the England average of 17.6 per cent. Because the figure is age-standardised, the island’s older age profile is not the main reason. Other factors are more likely: relatively high deprivation (mean decile 4.6 against 5.9 nationally), a largely rural settlement pattern (86 per cent rural) and low population density (370 people per km² versus 2 469). These conditions can limit access to work, transport and health care, all of which may increase the number of people whose daily activities are restricted.
In 2024, 1 190 working-age adults asked the council for social care. This equals 845 requests per 100 000 residents, about one quarter lower than the national rate of 1 143. A lower request rate alongside a higher disability rate suggests that some disabled islanders may not reach the formal assessment stage. Distance, limited public transport and lack of local advice services could all act as barriers to making a request.
Despite fewer requests, 1 005 adults aged 18–64 receive council-funded support. At 713 per 100 000 people, this exceeds the England figure of 533 by roughly one third. A high conversion of requests into services implies that the island’s eligibility threshold is not unusually strict. It may also show effective identification of need during assessment, or limited informal care networks in a rural setting.
Patterns within the total give more insight. Residential care stands out: 131 per 100 000 people are in working-age residential placements, more than double the national average of 61. Community support through council-managed personal budgets is also high (394 versus 267 per 100 000). Direct payments are common (163 versus 122), indicating a willingness among residents to manage their own care where possible. By contrast, nursing placements are low (7 versus 14). Taken together, the data hint at restricted specialist nursing capacity on the island. Where those beds are unavailable, people may be routed either to residential homes or to enhanced community packages.
Figures for 2025 on requests about assessments, charging, information and safeguarding are very small, reflecting the island’s limited population base. Once adjusted for population, the rates sit close to national norms. This supports the view that the main gap lies not in specialist advice services but in the initial step of approaching adult social care.
The combination of a high disability rate, lower help-seeking, and a strong reliance on residential care suggests three priorities. First, outreach and advice in rural areas could raise awareness of the support on offer and narrow unmet need. Second, investing in community-based nursing or re-ablement services may help people stay at home and reduce residential admissions. Third, deprivation-related barriers—poor transport links, lower incomes and fewer local services—must be considered when planning any new provision. Targeted funding for travel costs, mobile occupational therapy teams or digital care technology could ease these structural challenges and improve outcomes for disabled residents.
✨ ✅ ❌Older People
Just like with Working Age people, knowing how many older people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of the population is 65+ helps understand need and social care provision at a top level.
Jamaican female, blind and in her 40s. She was in an emergency Bed & Breakfast with her Niece, who acts as her unofficial carer, she is unable to work but would like to go to University. She is receiving PIP but not the Daily Living Allowance which she applied for in June 2021. She is vulnerable and has a history of self harm so was assigned a rehab Support Worker. Vanessa supported her using the Chatbot to chase up her PIP Daily Living allowance application, after waiting for several months and they received a reply within a week but was awarded the lower rate.
Another Chatbot letter was sent to request an urgent assessment due to her vulnerability and this was action quickly by the LA. Vanessa also supported her to use the chatbot and ask the Social worker to be moved to a place that supports her needs and rights. As she was having to use a shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen in a place with drug/alcohol abusers and being blind with no carer, this left her vulnerable. The Chatbot was used again to raise this issue and after a few weeks she was successfully moved to a private property in another area.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
As above, it is important to see what type of care older people are being provided because it can help explain where additional work is needed.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
The Island is small and rural. Only 141,000 people live here, against more than 367,000 in an average English authority. Yet it holds a very large share of older people. In 2019, 28.5 % of residents were aged 65 +, and this rose each year to 29.8 % in 2023. The England rate stayed close to 19 %. A high rural share (86 %) and the Island’s reputation as a retirement area help to explain this pattern. Local deprivation is also a little higher than average, which may limit family support and increase reliance on council services.
In 2024 the council received 3,715 requests for adult social care from people aged 65 +. This equals 2,636 requests per 100,000 older residents, around 8 % above the national rate of 2,438. A mature population naturally leads to more frailty, but the gap still suggests strong demand when need arises. Some of this demand may reflect isolation in small villages and the cost of private help in a visitor-led economy.
After assessment, 1,870 older residents were in a long-term care package. That is 1,327 per 100,000, one-third higher than the England figure of 1,003. Half of all requests therefore translate into ongoing support, a slightly higher conversion rate than seen nationally. This points to genuine need rather than excessive referral.
Residential placements stand out. The Island supports 670 older people in residential beds, or 475 per 100,000, almost twice the national rate of 250. Nursing beds are also a little above average (149 versus 122 per 100,000). Community-based options are mixed. Direct payments and managed personal budgets are both higher than the England mean, showing willingness to give choice, yet part-direct payments are low. Distance between villages and limited public transport may make home care runs costly, pushing practice towards block residential contracts.
Small 2025 figures on information and safeguarding requests (three to nine cases in each theme) sit close to national norms when adjusted for population. They hint that advice and risk activity remains steady, not rising at the same pace as care packages.
The Island’s very old age profile is driving high and rising demand. Residential use above national levels may reflect the rural setting, workforce travel times and limited community infrastructure. If the council wishes to contain cost and support independence, investment in home care capacity, digital monitoring and accessible transport will be vital. At the same time, continued deprivation means some households cannot buy private support, so council budgets must stay robust. Any future housing or economic plan that attracts younger workers could help rebalance the age mix and ease long-term pressure on adult social care.
✨ ✅ ❌When government support falls short, unpaid carers step in to provide care. However, many struggle with burnout, financial pressure, lack of social contact, and a lack of support. This section explores the number of unpaid carers, their increasing workload, and what forms of support are available.
Carers play a vital role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. The percentage of carers receiving direct payments highlights financial empowerment, the number of carers accessing services reflects local authority outreach, and the number turning to charities underscores unmet needs. Together, these data points reveal systemic strengths and weaknesses: low direct payment uptake may push carers toward charities, while effective services can reduce dependence on charitable support. Understanding these metrics enables targeted interventions to ensure carers receive the recognition and resources they deserve.
Unpaid carers play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. Understanding the number of unpaid carers in a local authority can be complicated. On the one hand, a relatively high proportion might be indicative of not enough being done by the local authority, and/or a strong community. On the other hand, a relatively lower number can mean good service provision, lower need, lower availability to look after family, or a problem with reporting.
Still, understanding the number of unpaid carers is a baseline number that must be considered.
NOMIS NM_2213_1
These values are widely considered to be an underestimate. See this report from Carers UK for more information.
August 2021 - Patient with dementia who lives in a shared lives setting. Carer had been requesting respite from the council since September 2020. Croydon Social Prescriber helped with a referral to the local authority in March 2021. Assessment conducted, with the promise they would come back with support, which did not happen. 25 August, social prescriber used the chatbot to find the right legal wording for the situation. The email was sent at 4.52pm that day. At 5.12pm the council contacted the carer to discuss the respite. This was the impact of one letter, addressed to a senior team.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
Social contact is important for carers’ well-being, as it can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Understanding the level of social contact that carers have can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of social contact may indicate a need for more social activities or support groups for carers, while a high level of social contact may suggest that carers have a strong support network.
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 11
The type of support available to carers can vary significantly, impacting their ability to provide care effectively. Understanding the types of support available can help identify areas where additional resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers receiving respite care may indicate a need for more support with caregiving responsibilities, while a low number of carers receiving financial support may suggest a need for additional financial assistance.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T47
Access to information is crucial for carers to navigate the social care system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for carers to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of carers finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 17
Note: these values are a work in progress… expect these numbers to go up
Access Social Care and other Helplines help people with information, advice, and support related to social care. Understanding the types of calls received by carers can highlight areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of calls related to financial support may indicate a need for more financial assistance for carers, while a high number of calls related to respite care may suggest a need for additional support with caregiving responsibilities.
It is important to note that, just as in the previous section, low numbers of requests might indicate that people don’t know where to get help, don’t feel they can get (or deserve) help, or other outreach problems. This is particularly important because we often work with people where the role of a carer is not recognised, or where the carer themselves does not recognise their role.
Access Social Care casework, AccessAva data, and helpline partner submissions
The Island has about 141 000 residents. In 2021 there were roughly 14 200 unpaid carers, equal to 10 083 carers for every 100 000 people. The England rate is 8 204 per 100 000. A high share of carers fits the local picture. The Isle of Wight is small, very rural (86 % of land is classed as rural) and a little more deprived than average. Public transport and formal services are harder to reach than in cities. Families and neighbours therefore step in more often.
In 2024, 31.6 % of Island carers said they have as much social contact as they would like, slightly above the national figure of 29.3 %. This suggests that local communities give some support despite distance and low density (370 residents per km² versus 2 469 in England). Even so, more than two-thirds remain socially isolated, so the challenge is still large.
Only 56.5 % of carers felt it is easy to get information about services, just under the national average of 59.3 %. On a scattered rural island, advice centres may be hard to reach and broadband coverage mixed. Better signposting, simple online guides and outreach in villages could lift this score.
Direct payment is the main local offer. The council gives 241 direct payments per 100 000 people, well above the England rate of 150. This lets carers choose their own help and may suit a rural setting where set services are thin.
Yet other forms of support are scarce. Respite delivered to the cared-for person is 39 per 100 000, only half the national level of 70. Information and advice services reach just 14 per 100 000, far below the England figure of 339. At the same time, the rate of carers recorded as getting no direct support is 295 per 100 000, more than double the national figure of 130. The pattern points to a system that relies on cash payments but does not always back them up with guidance or breaks.
The Island’s ageing and rural population will keep unpaid caring high. Direct payments appear popular and may work well when carers can organise help themselves. However, low access to respite and advice risks burnout and missed entitlements. Slightly better social contact scores show community strength, but they also hide the high number of carers who still feel alone.
Expanding mobile advice teams and community hubs could raise the ease-of-information score. Developing local respite options, even if only short daytime breaks, would balance the heavy use of direct payments. Because many carers already feel somewhat connected, building on village networks and volunteer schemes could be cost-effective. Targeting the most deprived areas, where caring and poverty overlap, would align with the Island’s below-average deprivation rating.
In short, unpaid carers are vital on the Isle of Wight. They outnumber the national norm, they get cash help, yet many still lack guidance and rest. Addressing these gaps is key to keeping both carers and the people they look after well.
✨ ✅ ❌Care providers are essential for delivering social care services, including home care agencies and care homes. The quality of care they provide can vary significantly, impacting the well-being of service users. This section examines the number and types of care providers, their quality ratings, and some of the difficulties of maintaining high standards. Understanding these metrics is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive high-quality care.
The number and types of care providers in a local authority can impact the availability and quality of social care services. Understanding the distribution of care providers directly influences people’s ability to get the care they need.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates care providers based on their quality of care, safety, and effectiveness. Understanding the quality ratings of care providers can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers with low ratings may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a high number of care providers with high ratings may suggest that existing services are effective.
Framework rates are the agreed prices that local authorities pay care providers for social care services, such as home care and residential care. These rates are crucial because they determine the affordability, availability, and quality of care in a city. If rates are too low, providers may struggle to sustain services, leading to workforce shortages, poor care quality, and limited access for those relying on council-funded care.
Understanding framework rates helps assess whether local authorities are adequately funding social care, ensuring fair pay for care workers, and maintaining a sustainable care market that meets residents’ needs.
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Several providers are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in business, and sometimes several providers collapse at once. For example, when pay rises are approved without consultation and effective immediately, providers may not be able to afford to pay their staff. This can cause a chain-effect which leads to collapse in the market, and a lack of care for those who need it.
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Workforce turnover rate is a measure of the number of staff leaving a care provider over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with staff retention, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding workforce turnover rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff retention and ensure high-quality care services.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Staff retention is crucial for maintaining high-quality care services. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in retaining staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to retain staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a low number of care providers facing retention challenges may suggest that existing services are effective.
This dataset describes the results of a survey asking care providers about their challenges in retaining staff.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Vacancy rate is a measure of the number of unfilled positions within a care provider over a specific period. High vacancy rates can indicate issues with staff recruitment, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding vacancy rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff recruitment and ensure high-quality care services.
Recruiting staff is essential for maintaining high-quality care services, and for backfilling staff when they leave. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in recruiting staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to recruit staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, or can point to a systemic problem, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or not enough people interested in this job type.
Staff recruitment is important as it’s one of the areas that have levers to pull outside of social care, for example, by changing how many visas are awarded to social care workers.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
The Island has 33 community-based services and 62 residential homes. With only about 141,000 residents, this gives roughly 23 community services and 44 residential homes for every 100,000 people. Across England the average area has far fewer: around 17 community services and 24 residential homes per 100,000. In other words, local people have easier physical access to a care setting than most of the country. A very high rural share (86 %) makes local availability important, because long travel times can stop people using help early. The large stock of providers therefore fits the geography of scattered villages and small towns.
Only 6.3 % of Isle of Wight providers are rated “requires improvement” or “inadequate”, while the national figure is 16.8 %. Good inspection results suggest strong day-to-day management and a positive culture. The Island’s small size may help: managers, commissioners, and families know one another, so problems are spotted quickly. Lower deprivation than many coastal areas and a tradition of community action could also support quality.
Staff turnover stands at 26.7 %, almost equal to the South East average. Vacancies are slightly lower (7.8 % versus 8.4 %). These figures show that, despite being an Island with a limited labour pool, providers are broadly keeping up with regional staffing patterns. However, 82.9 % of managers say recruiting is “more” or “much more” challenging, and 72.4 % say the same about retaining staff—both a little above regional sentiment. Travel costs, ferry timetables, and low housing supply may deter new workers even if posts are eventually filled. Maintaining present vacancy levels is therefore taking more effort, and service leaders report rising stress.
The Island’s population density is 370 residents per km², far lower than the England average of 2,469. Spreading many small services across rural parishes avoids long journeys for care staff and clients, yet it also fragments the workforce. A fragmented system needs more workers in total and leaves little slack when staff leave. This helps explain why managers feel recruitment pressure even though headline vacancy and turnover ratios look average.
Demand for care is likely to stay high. Isle of Wight has older demographics than England and slightly higher deprivation (mean decile 4.6 against 5.9). Older, poorer residents often need more social care support. The present high provider density is therefore not excess capacity but a response to real need.
The current model is delivering good quality, yet it is labour-intensive. Continued success will depend on fresh measures to widen the labour pool: subsidised travel, affordable key-worker housing, and stronger links with local colleges. Digital technology and shared back-office functions could ease pressure on small rural services. Because service quality is high, commissioners should guard against consolidation that reduces choice or pushes visits over longer distances.
In summary, Isle of Wight enjoys an above-average number of good-quality providers, matched to its dispersed settlements and ageing residents. Staffing is the critical risk: vacancies are under control for now, but the sense of rising difficulty shows the need for proactive workforce planning.
✨ ✅ ❌Historically, hospital delays have been due in large part, to the inability to discharge patients into social care. We no longer have DTOC data, but we can still look at the number of hospital delays and the number of facilities requiring improvement.
CQC, as the regulator of health and social care services in England, is beginning to rate Local Authorities on their social care provision. Understanding the CQC rating of a local authority should be used as the most official evaluation of service care provision. For example, a low rating may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high rating may suggest that existing services are effective.
Hospital delays can have a significant impact on patient care and outcomes, and are in large part the result of not having invested sufficiently in social care. Understanding the number of hospital delays in a local authority can be a sympthom of a poorly working social care sector. For example, a high number of hospital delays may indicate a need for improved discharge planning and coordination, not enough places to discharge people to, lack of sufficient staff to assess patients, or a lack of care providers.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
This metric illustrates how long patients are delayed in hospital before being discharged. Higher average delays mean that patients are spending more time in hospital than necessary, which can lead to increased costs, reduced bed availability, and poorer patient outcomes. This also means that the beds are not available for people that might desperately need them for life-saving procedures.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
Delayed Transfer of Care (DTOC) refers to the time between a patient being declared medically fit for discharge and actually leaving the hospital. Understanding the number of DTOCs in a local authority can help identify precisely where the social care system is failing.
Unfortunately, this dataset is no longer being generated.
Reablement is a short-term service that helps people regain independence and confidence after a period of illness or injury. Understanding the number of people receiving reablement services can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving reablement services may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a low number of people receiving reablement services may suggest that existing services are effective.
Coming soon!
Service user satisfaction is a key indicator of the quality of social care services. Understanding service user satisfaction can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of service user satisfaction may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high level of service user satisfaction may suggest that existing services are effective.
It is important to note that the people surveyed are already receiving service care. Notably absent are all the people that are not yet lucky enough to be receiving care.
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 1
Access to information is crucial for people using social care services to navigate the system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for people to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of people finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 13
An ombudsman is a person who has been appointed to look into complaints about companies and organisations. The number of cases received and decided by the Ombudsman is important because it provides insight into the volume of complaints about a local authority’s social care services and how effectively these complaints are being addressed. The number of cases received indicates the level of dissatisfaction or systemic issues within a council’s care provision, while the number of cases decided shows how efficiently the Ombudsman is processing and resolving complaints. A large gap between the two may suggest delays in complaint handling, leaving individuals waiting.
It is important to note that contacting the Ombudsman is widely considered a last resort, often discouraged, and sometimes penalised.
The Isle of Wight has about 141,000 people, far fewer than the average English council. Most residents live in rural areas and the isle is more deprived than the national mid-point. Travel over water and longer road distances shape how health and care services work.
In November 2024, almost every hospital discharge (99.8 %) came from a trust rated acceptable by the Care Quality Commission, well above the England figure of 89 %. Only 2.8 % of discharges were delayed, compared with 12.3 % nationally. When a delay did happen, the extra wait was just 0.21 days, one-third of the national average of 0.7 days. The single local hospital and close links with community teams seem to give clear hand-overs and quick patient flow, even with the transport limits of an island.
During 2024, 69.2 % of survey respondents said they were satisfied with their care and support, a little above the England rate of 64.7 %. At the same time, a separate NatCen question showed that 57 % voiced some dissatisfaction, suggesting mixed feelings within the community. Finding help appears easier here: 72.2 % felt they could locate information about services, again higher than the national figure of 68.2 %. In a rural setting, clear information may offset distance and limited public transport.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman received 5.0 cases per 100,000 residents in 2024, slightly above the England rate of 4.5. Decisions were made in 7.1 cases per 100,000, compared with 4.1 nationally. With a small population this equals about seven referrals and ten decisions. The higher rate may show that island residents feel able to raise issues, or it could hint that early local resolution needs to improve. Either way, acting on Ombudsman findings can raise quality further.
Strong discharge results point to good joint working between hospital and community teams. The council should protect these links, because quick discharge lowers risk for older or frail people, a growing group on the isle. Above-average satisfaction and ease of finding information show that residents value the support they receive, yet the number of formal complaints warns that some people still feel unheard. Using complaint themes to shape staff training and clearer communication could close this gap.
Population growth is flat, but rural spread, sea crossings and higher deprivation will continue to test services. Keeping discharge times low, sharing clear information and acting fast on concerns will help the Isle of Wight sustain its current good performance and push overall quality even higher.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
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The Council’s gross adult social care spend in 2024 is around £97 million. This is based on a gross figure of £68,524 for every 100,000 residents and a local population of just over 140,000. Net spend, once income is removed, is close to £80 million. Both sums are about forty per cent higher per head than the England average, so each resident of the Isle of Wight attracts considerably more public social-care money than the typical resident elsewhere.
The Island’s population is small, rural and moderately deprived. Eighty-six per cent of people live in rural areas, far above the national picture. Staff often travel longer distances to reach clients, so time and mileage costs rise. The lower population density (370 people per square kilometre versus 2,469 across England) also limits economies of scale; a care home or reablement team serves fewer people but still needs fixed staffing.
Deprivation is also a factor. The mean Index of Multiple Deprivation decile is 4.6, one step more deprived than the England average of 5.9. Poorer health that comes with deprivation can create higher demand for care, even though the population is smaller. Historic census data show a stable or falling headcount since 2019, so the cost pressure is unlikely to come from growth in numbers alone; instead it is the mix of need that drives spend.
Client contributions stand at about £16.6 million, or £11,781 per 100,000 residents. This is sixty-two per cent higher than the national rate, suggesting that the Island collects more fees from users. Home ownership among older residents is high, so more people pass the means test and pay towards their care. While this supports council budgets, it can deter some residents from seeking help early, increasing the risk of crisis admissions.
NHS contributions, roughly £8 million, are twenty-eight per cent lower than the national norm. This points to weaker joint funding arrangements or fewer continuing-health-care packages. Without strong NHS support, costs shift onto local government and make integration harder. Such an imbalance may also explain concerns raised locally about the true level of money required for care.
High per-capita spend shows the council is investing, yet the underlying drivers—rurality, deprivation and an older population—remain. The Island must keep exploring ways to pool budgets with the NHS, because current health contributions lag behind national practice. Better joint commissioning could release funds for preventive services and reduce reliance on client charges.
No data on budget cuts have been published, and some residents feel total need is not openly stated. Given the observed spending profile, transparent forward planning will be essential. Without it, there is a risk that rising costs outstrip both local revenue and client contributions, threatening service sustainability.
The Isle of Wight spends more on social care than most councils, and it does so for clear structural reasons. Further integration with health services, improved rural workforce planning and continued attention to deprivation hotspots will be key to ensuring that this higher spending translates into better outcomes for residents.
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