This page provides an overview of social care in Wokingham, 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 Wokingham. 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
Wokingham has a smaller share of disabled residents than England as a whole. The age-standardised rate is 13 per cent, while the national figure is 17.6 per cent. This lower level fits with other local facts. The borough is one of the least deprived areas in the country, with an average Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 9.3. It also has a young and growing population, rising from about 172,000 in 2019 to almost 184,000 in 2023. Good health, high incomes and good housing all help to keep disability rates down.
In 2024 there were 1,005 requests for support from working-age adults. This equals 547 requests per 100,000 residents, only half of the England average of 1,143. Fewer requests can point to better underlying health, but they may also hint at hidden need. Some people may not ask for help because they use private services, get informal care from family, or simply do not know what the council can offer.
Although requests are low, 1,010 working-age adults were actually receiving long-term support. The rate, 549 per 100,000, sits slightly above the national benchmark of 533. This suggests that once a resident comes forward, the council is likely to agree and to put a package in place. A high conversion rate from request to service can be a sign of responsive assessment teams and adequate local budgets.
Most local care is community based. Only 5.4 people per 100,000 are in nursing homes, far below the national 13.8. Residential placements are also lower than average. By contrast, direct payments are common: 174 people per 100,000 manage their own support compared with 122 nationally. Part-managed personal budgets are likewise higher than the England mean. Wokingham’s policy clearly favours independent living and personal choice. The borough’s affluence may make direct payments more attractive, as residents have the skills and resources to organise care themselves.
In 2025, demand for help with assessments, care plans and charging was above the national level when measured per 100,000 residents. For example, assessment support was sought by 4.4 people per 100,000, more than double the England rate. High information seeking fits a well-educated area, but it may also mean the care system is complex to navigate. Clearer guidance and digital tools could reduce repeat enquiries.
The combination of low disability prevalence, low request rates and average-to-high service uptake points to a well-targeted offer. However, the council should still monitor unmet need. Rapid population growth may add pressure, and some groups—especially in the small pockets of deprivation—might find it harder to access support. Continuing to fund early intervention and to promote direct payments should keep more residents living independently. At the same time, investment in advice services will help people make informed choices and avoid delays in care.
Keep the focus on community support, expand simple routes to information, and watch for any rise in unmet need as the population grows. With careful planning, Wokingham can maintain good outcomes for disabled residents while controlling future demand on costly residential and nursing provision.
✨ ✅ ❌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 share of residents aged 65 and over has stayed close to 17 per cent from 2019 to 2023. This is a little below the England level, which moved between 18.4 per cent and 18.9 per cent in the same years. At the same time Wokingham’s total population grew by about 12,000. New, younger households seem to be balancing out the growth in older residents, so the age mix is holding steady. Low deprivation (average decile 9.3) and a high rate of home ownership suggest that many older people in the borough are comparatively healthy and have private means.
In 2024 the council recorded 4,070 requests for support from people aged 65 plus. This is equal to 2,213 requests per 100,000 older residents, lower than the national figure of 2,438. A smaller proportion of older people therefore turns to the council for help. Good health, family support or the ability to buy care privately may help to explain this pattern.
There were 1,415 older service users in long-term care, a rate of 770 per 100,000 compared with 1,003 nationally. Again, the borough supports fewer people through council-funded packages. The mix of services, however, is distinctive.
Nursing home use is higher than the England rate (150 versus 122 per 100,000). Residential home use is lower (117 versus 250). This points to a “home first” approach: most residents remain at home until needs become complex, at which point they may move straight to nursing care.
Community services are widely used. Direct payments (82 per 100,000) and part direct payments (24 per 100,000) both sit a little above national levels, while council-commissioned home support alone is slightly below. Older people in Wokingham therefore take an active role in arranging their own care and may top up council funds with personal money.
In 2025 small numbers of older people asked for help with assessments, charging or safeguarding. Even so, the rate of charging enquiries (8.7 per 100,000) was higher than the England mean of 5.7. The borough’s wealth may bring more questions about means-testing and asset limits.
The stable but growing population suggests that absolute demand will rise even if the proportion of older people stays flat. Lower request and support rates give some head-room, yet the higher use of nursing beds shows that when residents do need help, needs can escalate quickly. Preventive actions that keep frail people safe at home for longer will therefore be vital.
Wokingham’s older residents value choice, as shown by the high take-up of direct payments. Maintaining a strong, flexible home-care market and clear financial advice should remain priorities. At the same time, planners should monitor nursing bed capacity, because that part of the system is used more heavily than in similar areas.
Overall, the data paint a picture of a relatively healthy, affluent older population that needs less council support but expects high-quality, personalised services when help is required.
✨ ✅ ❌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 6 845 unpaid carers lived in Wokingham for every 100 000 residents. With a mid-year population of roughly 178 000, this equals close to 12 200 people who give care to family or friends. The national rate is higher, at a little over 8 200 per 100 000. A lower local rate can mean several things. Wokingham is one of the least deprived areas in England (average Index of Multiple Deprivation decile 9). Households here are more able to buy formal help or move relatives into paid settings, so fewer people define themselves as unpaid carers. Good overall health in an affluent population may also delay the point at which care is needed.
Feeling linked to others is vital for carers. In the 2024 survey 36.7 % of Wokingham carers said they had as much social contact as they wanted, compared with 29.3 % across England. Living in a well-connected, mainly suburban area (only 18 % rural land) may make meeting friends and family easier. Lower deprivation also supports social activities because people have the time, transport and money to take part. Good social contact lessens stress and may delay carer burnout, so local services are starting from a strong base.
Two thirds of local carers (67.3 %) felt it was easy to get information about support, again above the national figure of 59.3 %. Wokingham has high digital access and literacy, which helps online searches. The council has invested in a single portal for adult social care, and feedback suggests that carers use it with confidence. Keeping this information up to date will be important as the population grows – up 7 % since 2019.
Use of formal carer services paints a mixed picture. Direct payments to carers stand at 152 per 100 000, very close to the England mean of 150. This shows the council is meeting its duty to offer flexible cash options. However, take-up of universal information and advice services is 158 per 100 000, under half the national level of 339. Respite arranged through support to the cared-for person is also low at 14 per 100 000 against 70 nationally. Lower demand can explain some of this, given the smaller carer base, yet the gap is wider than the difference in carer numbers alone.
Wokingham carers report good social and informational outcomes, likely helped by prosperity, compact geography and digital tools. The main risk is quiet need: carers may cope well until a crisis, then seek help that is not yet in place. Rapid population growth will add to future demand, and high housing costs may limit family proximity, increasing care complexity. Strengthening low-cost universal offers and promoting respite options before crisis point would balance the current emphasis on direct payments. Monitoring carers from less affluent wards – small in number but present – will keep inequalities from widening.
Maintain clear information portals, expand early advice sessions, and review why respite and signposting services are less used. Doing so will keep outcomes high as Wokingham’s population and care needs continue to rise.
✨ ✅ ❌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
In 2024 Wokingham hosts 37 community-based adult social care services and 47 residential care homes. At first glance these totals appear low against the national means of 63.8 and 91. Once population size is taken into account, the picture changes. With 183,870 residents in 2023, Wokingham offers around 20 community services and 26 residential homes per 100,000 people, slightly above the England equivalents of roughly 17 and 24. The borough therefore supplies a marginally richer mix of providers relative to its population, despite operating in a smaller market.
Only 11.8 % of local providers are rated “requires improvement” or “inadequate”, compared with 16.8 % nationally. This lower share of poorer ratings suggests that the existing market is maintaining good standards. Wokingham’s low levels of deprivation (average Index of Multiple Deprivation decile 9.3) and a relatively affluent client base may allow providers to reinvest more readily in staff training, facilities and digital tools, supporting better CQC outcomes.
The staff turnover rate in 2023/24 stands at 26.7 %, almost identical to the national figure. However vacancies are a little higher, 9.4 % versus 8.4 %. Providers also report greater difficulty both in retaining staff (72 % describe retention as “more” or “much more” challenging, compared with 68 % across the South East) and in recruiting new workers (83 % versus 80 %). These signals imply a tightening labour market: unemployment in an affluent area is low, housing costs are high, and competition from other sectors is strong. Unless addressed through pay, career development or affordable housing initiatives, workforce gaps could erode the current quality advantage.
Wokingham’s population has grown by nine per cent since 2019, twice the national pace. Although the borough is less densely populated than England overall (992 versus 2,469 residents per km²), most people live in suburban settings where community-based services can be delivered efficiently. Rising numbers of older residents with complex needs are likely in the next decade, and the proportion of privately funded clients is expected to stay high. The existing surplus of providers per head positions the area well, yet sustained population growth may still stretch capacity, particularly in specialist dementia or extra-care housing.
Maintaining the current quality level will depend on stabilising the workforce. Commissioners could explore joint recruitment campaigns with neighbouring authorities, widen apprenticeship routes and support flexible visas for overseas care workers. Given the affluent market, encouraging providers to pilot assistive technology and home-care models could relieve pressure on residential beds. Finally, continuing to monitor provider quality is vital, as even a small rise in the proportion rated “requires improvement” would affect a growing client group.
Overall, Wokingham offers a slightly above-average supply of largely good-quality care, but underlying workforce fragility and rapid population growth pose clear risks that need strategic attention.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Wokingham serves about 184,000 residents, roughly half the size of an average English local authority. Density is 992 people per km², far below the national figure of 2,469, and only 18 % of the area is classified as rural. The borough is one of the least deprived in England (mean deprivation decile = 9.3). Affluence usually brings good health and strong informal support; however, it can mask pockets of need and complicate access to community-based services in semi-rural fringes.
Almost every Wokingham resident leaving hospital (99.1 %) is taken from an acute trust judged acceptable by the CQC, well above the 89 % national benchmark. This suggests that the council has developed effective relationships with high-performing neighbouring trusts—an achievement in a sub-regional system where patients often cross local boundaries.
Yet 21.9 % of those discharges are reported as delayed, nearly double the England rate of 12.3 %. Delays are not especially long: the average wait is 0.64 days versus the national 0.70 days. In practice, many residents experience a brief postponement, perhaps while care packages or equipment are arranged, but they are not kept in hospital for extended periods. In a relatively affluent area, families may be more willing to hold out for a preferred care home or for home-care staff they know, adding to the proportion of recorded delays without extending their length.
Sixty-five per cent of surveyed users say they are satisfied with their care and support, fractionally higher than the England average of 64.7 %. A second poll by NatCen, using a different question set, records 57 % dissatisfaction; the contrast may indicate that expectations in Wokingham are higher than elsewhere, so residents judge services more critically even when objective performance is good.
Access to information is a notable strength. Seventy-two per cent of service users find it easy to obtain information about support, four percentage points above the national figure. The council’s digital-first approach may be paying off, especially in a community with high digital literacy.
Only 2.7 complaints per 100,000 people reached the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in 2024, equal to roughly five cases in absolute terms. The England rate is 4.5 per 100,000, or about 17 cases in an average-sized authority. Decisions issued by the Ombudsman follow a similar pattern (1.6 per 100,000 in Wokingham against 4.1 nationally). Low complaint volumes support the survey evidence that most residents feel services meet their needs, but they can also reflect barriers to complaining; the council should continue to publicise routes for feedback.
The overall quality picture is positive: high-quality hospital partners, broadly satisfied service users, accessible information and few escalated complaints. The main pressure point is the high proportion of delayed discharges. Given that delays are short, targeted actions such as same-day equipment delivery, rapid brokerage for home-care packages and closer alignment with community health services are likely to yield quick wins. Maintaining clear communication with families, who may be exercising greater choice, will also help reduce the percentage of cases recorded as “delayed” without eroding personal preference.
Continued monitoring is advisable as the population grows—about 2,000 extra residents a year—and ages. Affluence may limit eligibility for publicly funded care, increasing the importance of reliable signposting for self-funders. Investing in prevention, digital information portals and streamlined discharge pathways should keep Wokingham on its current high-quality trajectory.
✨ ✅ ❌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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In 2024 Wokingham Council spent about £76 million on adult social care. This figure comes from the gross spend of £41,594 per 100,000 people and a mid-2023 population of 183,870. The national gross spend is higher at £47,758 per 100,000. In other words, for every resident Wokingham spends roughly 13 % less than the average English council.
After taking income into account, net spend in Wokingham is close to £66 million, equal to £36,114 per 100,000 people. Again, this is below the national level of £40,472 per 100,000. The gap is a little smaller than for gross spend, so the local authority reduces its costs slightly more than most areas before the final bill reaches the taxpayer.
Client contributions – the money that service users pay to the council – bring in about £10 million, or £5,480 per 100,000 people. The national figure is £7,286 per 100,000. At first sight this seems low for an affluent place. The most likely reason is that many older people in Wokingham meet the full cost of their care privately and never enter the council system, so their payments do not appear in these accounts.
NHS contributions are also lower: £4,948 per 100,000, roughly £9 million in cash terms, against a national £7,878. This may point to fewer joint packages of health and social care because overall need is lower, or because a larger share of health-related support is commissioned directly by local NHS bodies.
Wokingham is one of the least deprived districts in England, sitting in deprivation decile 9 compared with the national mean of 6. Lower deprivation often means better health, later onset of disability and higher personal wealth. As a result demand for council-funded care can be lighter, and some people choose private options. Population density is moderate at 992 residents per km², which is far lower than city areas but higher than many rural counties. This mix favours home-care services that can be delivered efficiently, again helping to contain costs.
The borough’s population is growing – up by about 7 % since 2019 – yet per-capita spend is still below average. The council may be holding costs down by investing in prevention, making use of unpaid family care, or tightening eligibility. Without wider outcome data it is hard to know if any unmet need is hidden, so continued monitoring is important.
The figures suggest current funding is broadly in line with the local pattern of need, but two risks stand out. First, private self-funders may limit the council’s view of true market demand, making workforce planning harder. Second, rapid population increase could lift future demand faster than expected. Maintaining good links with independent providers and the local NHS will be vital so that cost pressures do not surprise commissioners.
In summary, Wokingham spends less on adult social care than the average English council, both in total and per head. Lower deprivation and a strong self-funding market explain much of the gap, but the council still needs clear data on need and outcomes to be sure that lower spend does not become lower support for residents who rely on it.
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