This page provides an overview of social care in Southampton, 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: Southampton
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: Southampton
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 Southampton. 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
Southampton is a dense, urban city with rising population and above-average deprivation. These factors shape the daily life of disabled residents and the public services they rely on. The data for 2024–25 gives a clear picture of both need and support.
An age-standardised rate of 19.6 per cent of residents report a disability, higher than the England figure of 17.6 per cent. The gap fits what we know about the city: poorer health outcomes are often linked to lower income and crowded housing. Southampton’s mean deprivation decile is 4.1, well below the national 5.9, so extra health problems are not unexpected.
In 2024, working-age adults (18–64) made 3,215 requests for care or support. This equals 1,255 requests per 100,000 residents, around ten per cent above the national rate of 1,143. The higher demand is likely driven by the larger disabled population and the pressures of urban living, such as limited informal care and higher housing costs. High population density (4,990 people per km²) can also bring more visible need, prompting residents to contact services sooner.
Despite stronger demand, 1,290 working-age adults actually receive long-term support. That is 504 people per 100,000, slightly below the national figure of 533. Fewer service users than expected, when requests are high, may point to unmet need, tight eligibility rules, or a focus on short-term sign-posting rather than ongoing packages.
The mix of care differs from the England pattern. Nursing (16 per 100,000) and residential placements (62 per 100,000) sit just above national averages, suggesting the city is willing to fund higher-cost, building-based options when needs are complex. Community support paid by the council through managed personal budgets is also higher (283 per 100,000 versus 267), but direct payments—where people manage money themselves—are far lower (66 per 100,000 versus 122). Some residents may lack the confidence, skills, or family help to run their own care, or the council may steer clients toward in-house provision. Prison-based services are not recorded, which is unsurprising for a small local prison population.
During 2025 the council logged small but telling numbers of advice requests. The rate for care-plan issues (2.0 per 100,000) tops the national mean of 1.4, while information-seeking queries (5.1 per 100,000) are roughly double the England level. These calls hint that people and families want clearer guidance on how to navigate assessment rules and charging. Where legal or safeguarding matters arise, local rates stay close to national norms, showing no unusual risk profile.
Southampton’s higher disability prevalence is driving above-average demand for help. Yet a smaller share of residents proceed to long-term care, revealing a possible service gap. Encouraging and supporting direct payments could widen choice and control, especially in a dense city where community resources are near at hand. Given rising population and persistent deprivation, the council may need to plan for further growth in caseloads and make sure information services keep pace with public interest.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Southampton is a young, compact and quite deprived city. Only about 14 % of its residents were aged 65 + in 2023, well below the England level of about 18 %. The share has risen a little since 2019 but has stayed close to 13 – 14 % while the national line has moved from 18.4 % to 18.5 %. With 4 990 people per square kilometre, the city is twice as crowded as the average local authority, and its mean deprivation score sits in the fourth decile, two steps below the national midpoint. These features shape both the need for support and the way services are used.
In 2024 there were 6 265 requests for care from residents aged 65 +. That equals 2 446 requests for every 100 000 people, slightly above the national rate of 2 438. The higher rate is notable because Southampton has a smaller older population. It points to pressure that comes from poorer health linked to deprivation, as well as the strain that close-packed housing can place on informal support. The 2025 figures for advice show the same story. Inquiries about care plans and charging, at 1.95 and 5.47 per 100 000, match or out-pace the England averages, hinting that many older residents need guidance on complex or costly packages.
Only 2 080 older people were actually receiving long-term adult social care in 2024, a rate of 812 per 100 000. The national figure is 1 003 per 100 000, so uptake in Southampton is one fifth lower. The mix of services is also unusual. Nursing home use is high, at 166 per 100 000 compared with 122 nationally, but residential care is low (150 versus 250). Community options are lower across the board: direct payment only, part direct payment and commissioned community support all sit well below the England means. The pattern suggests that many citizens enter formal care late, when needs are already complex and nursing input is required, while earlier, lighter-touch help at home is less common.
Three messages stand out. First, city demographics protect budgets to a degree, as there are fewer older residents, yet deprivation and high density raise the underlying risk of ill-health. This creates a demand level that already matches the national picture and is likely to grow as the cohort ages.
Second, the gap between requests and people receiving care hints at unmet or delayed need. Some older residents may rely on family, struggle to navigate the system, or wait until they qualify for nursing care. The higher share of advice about charging reinforces the idea that cost is a barrier.
Third, the service mix leans towards institutional nursing. Expanding reliable community support and flexible personal budgets could help people stay at home longer, ease hospital flow and limit expensive placements. Given the city’s dense, urban setting, small-scale community teams and good transport links could make such a shift practical.
In sum, Southampton’s young age profile masks a level of need that is already on par with England. Closing the gap between demand and provision, while steering resources toward earlier, home-based help, should be a priority for planners and commissioners.
✨ ✅ ❌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
In 2021 about 18,000 Southampton residents said they gave unpaid care. This is around 7,323 carers for every 100,000 people, lower than the England rate of 8,204 per 100,000. Two things may sit behind this gap. First, the city has a slightly younger age profile than many areas, so there are fewer older relatives who need care. Second, some carers may not see themselves as carers and therefore do not register for help. The difference is worth noting because a smaller recorded carer group can hide pressure on the wider health and social care system if unrecognised carers burn out.
Only 28.7% of local carers felt they had as much social contact as they wanted in 2024. The England figure is 29.3%, so Southampton is close to, but still below, the national picture. Living in a very dense city—4,991 people per square kilometre—does not automatically mean stronger social ties, especially when the city is more deprived than average. Limited green space, shift work linked to the port and service sectors, and high housing turnover can all make it hard for carers to meet friends or join support groups.
Just over half of carers (54.1%) said it was easy to find information about services, five percentage points lower than the England result. This suggests a gap in either the clarity of advice or the channels used to share it. Digital guides may not reach carers in the most deprived neighbourhoods, and 0% rural coverage means there is no natural parish network to spread messages by word of mouth.
The pattern of direct support is unusual. About 1,480 carers (578 per 100,000) received a direct payment in 2024, almost four times the national rate. This shows the council is willing to hand control and flexibility to carers. However, only 440 carers (172 per 100,000) got simple information or advice, barely half the England rate. A further 550 carers (215 per 100,000) received no support at all, well above the national level. Roughly 195 carers (76 per 100,000) benefited from respite provided to the person they look after, in line with England.
The figures paint a mixed picture: those who secure a direct payment are well served, yet many others are left with little or no help. The high share of “no direct support” cases echoes the lower scores on social contact and information access.
Southampton’s carer offer has clear strengths in flexible, cash-based help, but it risks overlooking people who need lighter-touch support or guidance. With a growing, densely packed, and relatively deprived population, demand is likely to rise. Improving outreach—through community hubs, workplace campaigns at the port, and links with GP practices—could bring hidden carers into view. Expanding low-cost social and information services may also lift well-being scores and prevent carer breakdown, reducing pressure on formal care budgets over time.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Southampton has 44 community-based adult social care services and 52 residential care homes. The city’s population in 2023 was about 256,000. This gives roughly 17 community services and 20 residential homes for every 100,000 people. Nationally the averages are about 17 and 24 per 100,000. In other words, community services in Southampton keep pace with the country, yet residential places are scarcer. A compact, very urban area with almost 5,000 residents per square kilometre means each care site can reach many people. Even so, lower residential supply may push families towards community support or informal care, especially when need is high.
Just over 16 % of local providers are rated “needs improvement” or “inadequate”, a little better than the England rate of nearly 17 %. The result suggests that, despite fewer residential options, quality is holding up. Tight local oversight and the ability of inspectors to visit sites quickly in a small city may help. It may also show that providers who stay in the market can keep standards high because demand is steady.
Staff turnover sits at 26.7 %, almost identical to the regional figure. Vacancies are lower than the national level, 6.3 % versus 8.4 %, so posts are being filled. Yet 82.9 % of employers say recruiting is “more challenging” or “much more challenging”, and 72.4 % report similar difficulty in keeping staff, both a little above South East levels. This mismatch hints at rising pressure: posts are filled today, but managers fear they may not be tomorrow. High housing costs, competition with the port and retail jobs, and a large student population who often move on quickly could all limit a stable care workforce.
Southampton is more deprived than the England average, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.1. Deprivation often links with poorer health and a higher call for social care. The city’s younger working population has grown in recent years, yet many older residents live alone in dense neighbourhoods. These factors can lift demand for both home support and residential beds. Because residential capacity is below average, people may wait longer for a place or travel outside the city, adding stress to families and hospital discharge teams.
The city should protect and expand residential capacity, or else strengthen home-care alternatives and respite options. Maintaining quality will mean sustained support for providers, including help with training and digital tools that cut paperwork. Workforce worries call for local action on pay, travel costs and housing, so carers see Southampton as a long-term career base. Finally, given high density and deprivation, careful planning is needed to keep services close to where need is greatest, making sure that limited supply does not turn into unmet need.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Almost every Southampton resident who leaves hospital (99.9 %) is discharged to a service judged acceptable by the Care Quality Commission. The national figure is lower (89 %), so local systems appear well linked and staff know where to send people. Yet 17.6 % of these discharges are delayed, compared with 12.3 % in England, and the average wait is 1.28 days rather than 0.7. The contrast suggests that while suitable destinations exist, capacity or co-ordination at the point of transfer is tight. Southampton’s very high population density (4 990 persons per km², double the national average) and above-average deprivation can concentrate demand on a small number of beds, making short delays more likely even when quality remains good.
The adult social care survey shows 65.9 % of respondents satisfied with their support, a little higher than the 64.7 % national mean. Dissatisfaction captured by NatCen is 57 %, but no comparator is available; the figure still hints that a sizeable minority do not feel helped. Finding clear information is slightly harder in Southampton (67.8 % say it is easy, against 68.2 % across England). Dense urban settings often offer many providers, voluntary groups and informal networks, which can crowd the information space and leave residents unsure where to look. Targeted sign-posting and digital triage could lift these scores without large extra cost.
In 2024 the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman received 4.30 cases per 100 000 residents and decided 3.90. Using the mid-2023 population of 256 110, this equates to roughly 11 complaints received and 10 concluded. The national rates are 4.45 and 4.12 respectively, so Southampton is fractionally better. Lower complaint levels, together with normal decision rates, imply that most problems are settled locally before escalation. Maintaining responsive front-line complaint handling will be vital as the city grows.
Between 2019 and 2023 Southampton’s population rose by about 6 700 while staying younger than many areas. The city is entirely urban and more deprived than average (mean Index of Multiple Deprivation decile 4.1 versus 5.9 in England). Both factors usually push up demand for hospital care and social support. The data show local teams coping well with quality requirements but struggling with flow, a pattern typical where demand rises faster than staffed community capacity.
Reducing delays would release beds and improve user experience. Investment does not need to focus on creating more placements, because acceptable settings already exist; instead it could fund “step-down” coordination staff, rapid equipment services and digital bed-tracking across providers. Better public information, especially for carers in deprived wards, could also raise satisfaction above the national level and further limit formal complaints.
Southampton demonstrates strong quality assurance and slightly above-average satisfaction in a challenging, densely populated and deprived context. The principal improvement opportunity lies in shortening discharge delays. Doing so should enhance throughput in hospital, reduce stress for families and reinforce the city’s positive quality ratings.
✨ ✅ ❌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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Southampton spends heavily on social care, yet its pattern of funding is different from the national norm. In 2024 the city’s gross spend is about £46,110 per 100,000 residents, roughly five per cent below the England average of £47,758. Multiplying by the current population of approximately 256,000 gives an estimated gross bill of £118 million. After taking income into account, net expenditure stands at £40,813 per 100,000 people, close to the national figure. In cash terms this is about £105 million.
The similarity in net spend masks a shortfall in external income. Client charges raise about £5,297 per 100,000 residents, two thousand pounds less than the typical authority. This equates to roughly £13.5 million a year. Local NHS bodies contribute £5,765 per 100,000, also well below the national norm, bringing in around £14.8 million. The council therefore relies more on its core budget to meet need. A lower level of client contributions is unsurprising: the city’s average deprivation decile is 4.1 compared with 5.9 for England, so fewer adults can afford to pay full fees. Lower NHS transfers may reflect pressures on the integrated care board or a commissioning model that places more cost on the council side.
High demand for support is likely. The population is growing again after a slight dip during the pandemic and has risen by about 8,500 in two years. With nearly 5,000 residents per square kilometre, Southampton is one of the most densely populated places outside London. Dense, deprived urban areas usually report higher rates of disability, mental ill-health and homelessness, each drawing on adult social care budgets. Zero per cent of the city is classed as rural, so there is no offsetting effect of low-cost rural re-ablement or family-based support.
Spending a little less than the national average on each resident may still leave the council stretched, because the underlying need is likely to be higher than in many better-off, less crowded areas. The lower inflow of NHS money also places more pressure on the local authority to fund intermediate care beds, hospital discharge services and joint equipment stores. If health partners cannot boost their contribution, the council may have to make sharper choices about eligibility or invest more in prevention to keep demand down.
The figures suggest three priorities. First, deepen collaboration with the NHS so that pooled budgets better reflect shared responsibility for rehabilitation and long-term conditions. Second, review charging policies to ensure people who can pay are assessed promptly, while protecting those with low incomes. Third, target neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation for early-help services; this could slow the flow of costly packages later on. Without these actions, the current gap between need and income is likely to widen, putting the sustainability of Southampton’s social care system at risk.
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