This page provides an overview of social care in Torbay, 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.
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.
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 Torbay. 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 age-standardised rate of disability in Torbay is 22.1 per cent. The England rate is 17.6 per cent. This tells us that, after we allow for different age structures, disability is more common in Torbay than in the country as a whole. The higher rate fits with two known local factors. First, the borough is more deprived than average: its mean Index of Multiple Deprivation decile is 4.1, while England sits at 5.9. Poor health often goes with deprivation and can lead to long-term disability. Second, the population is small (about 139,500) but densely settled and largely urban. In towns with little green space, some long-term conditions such as respiratory disease or mental ill-health can be harder to manage, again raising disability rates.
In 2024, 1,975 working-age adults (18–64) asked the council for social care. This equals 1,416 requests per 100,000 residents, against a national figure of 1,143. The gap of 273 per 100,000 shows that need is not only higher in absolute terms; it is higher once population size is considered. More people are therefore turning to statutory services for help, which may reflect limited informal care networks or housing that is not well adapted for disability.
The council already supports 1,265 working-age adults. That is 907 per 100,000 residents compared with an England average of 533. The pattern inside this total offers extra clues.
Residential placements stand at 104 per 100,000, well above the national 61. This suggests that many disabled people cannot stay in their own home. However, nursing home use is slightly below average (11 per 100,000 versus 14). One possible reason is a shortage of local nursing beds, meaning those with very high needs move out of area or rely on intensive community packages instead.
Community support funded through a council-managed personal budget is 591 per 100,000, more than double the England value of 267. Direct payments, whether full or part, are also modestly higher. Torbay seems to favour personalised, home-based help. Given its tight geography—population density is 2,216 per km² compared with 2,469 nationally—domiciliary providers can reach clients quickly. This may let the council offer more hours of care at lower travel cost, making community options attractive for both budget and user choice.
Requests for charging advice are 11.5 per 100,000, almost twice the England rate. People may be unsure about care costs because many sit just above benefits thresholds yet still face deprivation. Low income, coupled with high disability, can fuel anxiety about fees and lead to more questions or challenges.
The data point to a borough with high disability, high demand, and a strong push for community-based support. Residential placements remain common, yet use of nursing homes is low, perhaps signalling a gap in provision. With a small but deprived population, Torbay will need to keep funding flexible home care and expand housing adaptations to help disabled adults stay independent. At the same time, clear information on charging is vital, as financial concern drives many enquiries. A continued focus on personal budgets, combined with better local nursing capacity, could balance cost control with user need.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Torbay already has many older residents, and the share keeps rising. In 2019 about 26.3% of people were aged 65 or over; by 2023 the share was 27.2%. The England average stayed near 19%. The growth is steady, adding around 1 000 older people in five years while total population stayed near 139 000. This means that one person in four is now older, and the mix is moving further in that direction.
A large older group often needs more social care, and the figures show this clearly. In 2024 there were 6 715 requests for care from residents aged 65+. That equals 4 814 requests for every 100 000 people, almost twice the national rate of 2 438. The gap is striking: Torbay’s older people ask for help more often than most places. This may point to poorer health, fewer family carers, or a strong awareness of how to contact the council.
Two in every three requests led to formal services. In 2024 the council supported 2 255 older residents, or 1 617 per 100 000; England’s average was 1 003. Torbay therefore delivers care to about one extra person for every three the average area supports. Service mix gives extra clues:
• Residential care is very common. Torbay places 527 people per 100 000 in care homes, more than double the national norm of 250. This suggests many frail residents, possible shortage of suitable housing, or family who move away for work.
• Nursing home use is slightly below average (111 vs 122 per 100 000). Health need may be high, but beds for nursing care may be limited, pushing people into standard residential settings.
• Community support is popular. Managed personal budgets reach 846 per 100 000 compared with 508 nationally, and direct-payment-only support is also high. This points to a council that offers choice and an older public willing to organise their own help.
Torbay is small and compact: 2 216 residents per km², a little less dense than England’s 2 469 but still urban. Only 15% of land is rural, so most services are near. Yet deprivation is above average. The mean Index of Multiple Deprivation decile is 4.1 while England sits at 5.9; the lower rank confirms more need. Ageing, urban living and disadvantage together raise the risk of poor health, driving the high care demand seen above.
In 2025 only a few older people asked for legal, payment or safeguarding advice. Rates were close to national figures. This may mean frontline care is meeting needs, or that some residents do not yet see these support routes.
The share of older people is rising, and their use of formal care is already far above average. Residential demand, if unchecked, will stretch budgets and workforce. Increasing nursing capacity, expanding home adaptations and supporting unpaid carers could slow the flow into care homes. Because many residents choose personal budgets, strengthening brokerage and market-shaping will be important. Finally, Torbay’s higher deprivation suggests that public health work on smoking, falls and isolation could reduce care need later on.
✨ ✅ ❌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 14,900 Torbay residents were unpaid carers. This equals 10,691 carers for every 100,000 people, well above the England figure of 8,204 per 100,000. Torbay is a small area with 139,440 people, many of whom are older and live in poorer areas. These factors often raise the need for informal care: when relatives grow older and money is tight, family and friends step in instead of paid staff. The high local density (2,216 residents per km²) also makes daily visits easier, so caring at home can feel possible for more households.
Only 29.8 % of Torbay carers said in 2024 that they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is slightly better than the national rate of 29.3 %, but it still means that seven in ten carers feel lonely or cut off. Deprivation is higher than average in Torbay (mean decile 4.1 vs 5.9 for England); low income can limit transport, leisure and digital access, all of which shape social contact.
Finding help is less of a problem. Two thirds of local carers (64.7 %) felt it was easy to get information about services, compared with 59.3 % in England. Good sign-posting may reduce stress, yet it does not fully solve the contact gap noted above.
Torbay chooses flexible support over council-managed services. In 2024, 502 direct payments were made for every 100,000 residents—over three times the national level. Information and advice services were offered at a rate of 620 per 100,000, again well above the England figure. By contrast, council-managed personal budgets (32 per 100,000), part-direct payments (29), respite delivered to the cared-for person (32) and commissioned support only (no recorded use) all sit below national norms. Very few carers get no help at all (25 per 100,000, one fifth of the England rate), showing that at least some form of support reaches most carers.
The mix of many carers, high direct payments and low use of formal care suggests strong demand meeting a light-touch response. Direct payments are flexible and often cheaper, yet they place the work of arranging help on the carer. When paired with the low social contact score, this may hint at hidden strain. Torbay’s relatively deprived population might not always have the spare cash or networks needed to turn a direct payment into reliable support.
Only one carer-related safeguarding concern was logged in 2025 (0.72 per 100,000, close to the national 0.75). This could mean good risk management, but it might also reflect under-reporting if carers are not in close touch with formal services.
Keeping carers well should remain a priority. The council may wish to balance its strong direct-payment offer with wider respite options and community groups that give carers time off and social links. Clear information is already a strength, but tackling loneliness will need joint work with voluntary bodies, transport planners and local employers. Given higher deprivation, extra outreach may be needed so that carers with few resources can still benefit from support.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
?
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.
?
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
Torbay has 26 community-based adult social care services and 73 residential care services. The raw totals are lower than the typical English local authority, yet Torbay’s population is much smaller (around 139,500 compared with an average of 377,000). When adjusted for population, Torbay offers about 18.6 community providers and 52.3 residential providers per 100,000 residents. The notional national rates, based on the mean counts and mean population, are roughly 16.9 and 24.1 per 100,000. Torbay therefore supplies community care at a slightly higher rate and residential care at more than double the national intensity. The coastal area has long attracted older adults, so a dense network of care homes is unsurprising. Higher supply should, in principle, shorten travel distances for families and professionals and give commissioners choice when placing clients.
In 2024, 17.2 % of inspected providers were rated “requires improvement” or “inadequate”, very close to the England figure of 16.8 %. Given the large number of homes, maintaining this quality level is encouraging, yet about one in six services still falls below expected standards. Concentrated effort on care governance and leadership development may lift overall ratings and protect Torbay’s reputation as a care destination.
Staff turnover sits at 26 %, almost identical to the national average (26.1 %). The vacancy rate is lower than average at 5.4 % versus 8.4 %, suggesting that posts are, for now, being filled. However, 89 % of providers report that recruiting staff is more or much more challenging, and 77 % say the same about retaining staff; both figures exceed regional and national sentiment. This apparent contradiction hints at fragile stability: vacancies are modest today, yet employers worry about the next hiring round. Competition from hospitality and health sectors, seasonal housing pressures and relatively low local wages may be fuelling anxiety.
Torbay is densely populated for its size (2,216 residents per km²) and more deprived than the England average (mean deprivation decile 4.1 against 5.9). Higher deprivation can raise demand for publicly funded care and restrict the pool of qualified applicants, increasing workload for existing staff and complicating quality improvement. At the same time, the compact urban form means outreach workers spend less time travelling, offering a logistical advantage over rural authorities.
The abundant supply of residential beds meets the needs of an older population but risks oversupply if demand patterns shift towards home-based support. Commissioners should monitor occupancy trends and encourage community models that align with people’s preference to remain at home. Workforce support remains critical: targeted training bursaries, affordable housing schemes and collaboration with local colleges could ease recruitment stress before it translates into higher vacancies. Finally, consistent quality monitoring, especially in the more deprived neighbourhoods, will be vital to ensure that a plentiful market also delivers safe and effective care.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Torbay has about 139,000 residents, much smaller than the average English local authority (about 377,000). Population density is high for a coastal area, yet still below the England mean. The mean deprivation decile is 4.1, lower than the national 5.9, so the area is more deprived than most. Only one in seven people lives in a rural setting, meaning services are delivered mainly in urban and suburban streets. These factors give Torbay both pressure (because need is high) and opportunity (because distances are short) when trying to improve quality.
Almost every Torbay patient (99.9 %) is discharged from an acceptable acute trust, well above the England figure of 89 %. Delays are less common: 11.7 % of discharges are delayed, compared with 12.3 % nationally, and the average delay is 0.38 days rather than 0.7 days. For a small system this difference matters; cutting half a day from each delay frees scarce beds faster and lowers risk for older people. The result suggests tight joint working between the hospital, adult social care and community teams. Torbay has long used an integrated care model, and these numbers hint that the model is still paying off.
Two out of three survey respondents (67.3 %) say they are satisfied with their care and support. This sits a little above the England mean of 64.7 %. People also find it slightly easier to get information about services (68.9 % versus 68.2 %). A second study by NatCen records 57 % dissatisfaction, a much higher figure, yet no national comparator is given. The gap between the two surveys may reflect different questions or the fact that people who do not receive services at all often feel most dissatisfied. In a comparatively deprived seaside town, unmet need in the wider population could still be pressing even though current service users report fair satisfaction.
Only 2.15 complaints per 100,000 residents were received by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in 2024, and 3.58 were decided. Both rates are lower than the England means of 4.45 and 4.12. Low complaint rates can mean good practice, but they can also mean some citizens feel it is not worth complaining. Given Torbay’s higher deprivation, the first explanation looks more likely because deprived areas usually produce more, not fewer, complaints.
Across these indicators Torbay performs at or above the national average despite higher deprivation and a tight population base. Quick hospital discharge, decent satisfaction and few formal complaints point to an adult social care system that has improved quality in recent years. The main risk is hidden demand: the NatCen figure hints that people outside formal services may be unhappy. Continued work on outreach and clear information, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, will help Torbay keep up its progress and make sure quality gains reach everyone.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
✨ ✅ ❌?
Torbay spends about £80 million on adult social care in 2024. This comes from a gross spend of £57,322 for every 100,000 residents. The England average is £47,758. In other words, Torbay puts roughly one fifth more money into care for each person than the country as a whole.
The size and make-up of the local population help to explain the high figure. Torbay has only 139,485 residents, far below the national mean of 377,061. A small council cannot spread overhead costs as widely as a large one, so spend for each resident is often higher. In addition, the area is known as a retirement coast. Although age data are not in this set, national sources show that Torbay has a large share of people over 65. Older people are more likely to need help with daily living, care at home, and residential support. More need pushes up both activity and cost.
Net spend, after income, is £45,524 per 100,000 residents, again higher than the England mean of £40,472. Torbay raises £11,798 per 100,000 from client contributions, about 60 % more than the national figure. This suggests two things. First, many residents receive chargeable services such as long-term home care or care-home places. Second, the council may set charges at the top of the national guidance to balance its budget.
NHS money also plays a bigger part in Torbay. NHS contributions reach £24,285 per 100,000 residents, more than triple the England mean of £7,878. Torbay was an early pioneer of integrated health and care budgets. The data show that joint work with the local Integrated Care Board continues and is now crucial to overall funding.
Financial need does not arise only from age. Torbay is more deprived than the average English area: its mean deprivation decile is 4.1, well below the national 5.9. Poor health and low income often follow deprivation, bringing extra demand for social care. Higher spend therefore reflects real need rather than inefficiency.
The figures show a council that must spend more than most to meet local demand, yet still lean on client fees and NHS transfers. Data on budget cuts are missing, but the funding pattern hints at pressure. If national grants fall, Torbay will have limited room to raise extra income because many residents have low earnings. Greater central support or new long-term funding rules would help protect care quality.
Population projections suggest that older age groups in coastal towns will keep growing. Without change, Torbay’s spend per resident is likely to rise further. Strong joint planning with the NHS, continued work on prevention, and fair national funding will be key to keeping services sustainable and meeting the needs of a small but ageing community.
✨ ✅ ❌