Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - statistical commentary
Published 18 December 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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Introduction
This report provides findings for each of the measures (also called metrics) in the adult social care outcomes framework (ASCOF) for the financial year 2024 to 2025. The ASCOF measures how well care and support services achieve the outcomes that matter most to people who draw on care and support in England.
The metrics in the ASCOF include information on 6 objectives:
- quality of life
- independence
- empowerment (information and advice)
- safety
- social connection
- continuity and quality of care
You can find more information on the ASCOF metrics in the adult social care outcomes framework: handbook of definitions.
This report presents the national and regional findings for the ASCOF measures.
Accompanying this report is an interactive Power BI report, which is available on the NHS England website. You can find the scores for each council with adult social services responsibilities (CASSR) in the Power BI report. CASSRs will be referred to as local authorities throughout this report. The underlying data for each metric is also published in a CSV file alongside this report.
ASCOF metric sources
The ASCOF draws on several data collections.
ASCOF metrics are taken from 4 adult social care statistical returns:
- 2024 to 2025 adult social care survey (ASCS)
- 2024 to 2025 client level data (CLD) (which replaced SALT from April 2024)
- 2024 to 2025 safeguarding adults collection (SAC) 2024 to 2025
- 2023 to 2024 survey of adult carers in England (SACE) 2023 to 2024
Data for 2024 to 2025 is also sourced from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for care provider ratings, and Skills for Care for workforce turnover data.
Mid-2024 population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are used as the denominators in ASCOF for metrics 2B and 2C to provide a rate per standard volume of population for each geographical area.
Secondary uses service (SUS) data from 2024 to 2025 contains information on hospital activity delivered by NHS hospitals and is used in ASCOF for metric 2D to identify whether individuals have been admitted and discharged from hospital.
ASCS, SAC and CQC data is collected every year. SACE is collected every 2 years, CLD is collected quarterly and SUS is monthly.
For more detailed information about data sources, see ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - data sources, quality and uses’ and ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’, published alongside this report.
Official statistics in development: ASCOF metrics derived from CLD
Metrics 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 3D are derived from CLD for the first time for 2024 to 2025. These metrics are official statistics in development to reflect the substantial change in the data source and the methodologies. As such, the figures derived from CLD should not be compared to short and long term (SALT) derived figures for previous years.
Following our review of the July CLD submissions, the national number of unpaid carers recorded in CLD for 2024 to 2025 remains significantly below the figure reported through the previous SALT collection for 2023 to 2024. To avoid misinterpretation, this year’s ASCOF excludes CLD metrics describing local authority support for unpaid carers (ASCOF 3D parts 1a and 2b). We are working to improve unpaid carer data this year and intend to publish these figures again from 2026 onwards.
For more information, see ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - methodologies for metrics derived from client level data’ and ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’, which are both published alongside this report.
Data presentation
In this commentary, numbers are rounded to one decimal place. The only exception is the quality of life score for metric 1B, which is rounded to 3 decimal places. As a result of rounding, the proportions shown for each question may not sum exactly to 100%.
As SACE is collected every 2 years, the data in this commentary comes from the 2023 to 2024 SACE report.
Metrics from survey data have been calculated by weighting the responses to each question using population figures for those eligible to take part. These weighted results are used to estimate the percentage of the overall population who hold these views.
Where a result was significantly different from another figure, we use language to express how it was different such as ‘higher than’ or ‘less than’. Where a result was not significantly different we use language to express that the figures being compared are similar. For further information on the data quality and statistical significance of figures, see ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - data sources, quality and uses’.
In contrast, new metrics derived from CLD are not comparable to previous years’ figures due to the change in data source and methodology.
For more information on the quality of CLD and comparability with previous year’s figures, see ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’. For more information on the methods used to derive the ASCOF metrics from CLD, see ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - methodologies for metrics derived from client level data’.
About this release
In addition to this report, the Measures from the adult social care outcomes framework, England: 2024 to 2025 statistical release also consists of the following information and data:
- ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - data sources, quality and uses’ and ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’, which contain information on the quality of the data and validation methods used in the survey
- ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’ (in OpenDocument Spreadsheet (ODS) format)
- ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’ (in ODS format), which identifies the England-level outcomes that are statistically different
- ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - methodologies for metrics derived from client level data’, which provides further details on the development of CLD derived metrics
- ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - all data’ and ‘How to use the CSV file’. These are a comma-separated value (CSV) file of all record-level data alongside a guidance document
Main points
The ASCOF main points provide an insight into how local authorities are performing nationally across DHSC’s 3 adult social care priority areas:
- quality
- independence, choice and control
- neighbourhood health
Quality
These findings provide an insight into whether adult social care services are enabling people who draw on care and support and unpaid carers to experience high quality adult social care provided by a skilled workforce.
In 2024 to 2025 the national adjusted quality of life score for people who draw on long-term support was 0.419, which is similar to the score for 2023 to 2024 (0.417, metric 1B).
In 2024 to 2025, 65.1% of people who draw on long-term support were satisfied with the services they receive (metric 1D). The most recent survey of unpaid carers (SACE, 2023 to 2024) reported a satisfaction level of 36.7% (metric 1E). These figures are similar to those from the previous surveys: 65.4% for metric 1D and 36.3% for metric 1E.
Independence, choice and control
These findings provide an insight into whether people who draw on care and support are supported to promote their independence where possible, and have choice and control over their support.
In total, of the adults receiving long-term support (see metric 2E):
- 77.4% of all adults aged 18 to 64 live either at home or with family
- 81.4 % of adults aged 18 to 64 who have a learning disability live either at home or with family
- 60.3% of adults aged 65 and over who are receiving long term support live either at home or with family
Important choice and control metrics for people who draw on long-term support and for unpaid carers are drawn from 2 national surveys:
- ASCS
- SACE
In 2024 to 2025, 77.3% of people who draw on long-term support reported having control over their daily life (ASCS, metric 3A), this was similar to 2023 to 2024 (77.6%). The 2023 to 2024 survey of unpaid carers found that 66.4% have been included or consulted in discussion about the person they care for (SACE, metric 3B).
Neighbourhood health
These findings provide an insight into whether people who draw on care and support experience joined up health and social care services at a neighbourhood level.
In 2024 to 2025, there were 593 admissions to residential or nursing care per 100,000 population aged 65 and over (metric 2C) and 17 admissions to residential or nursing care per 100,000 population aged 18 to 64 (metric 2B) in England. Comparison with previous figures is not possible due to changes in the data source and methodology.
A total of 60.7% of people aged 65 and over who were discharged from hospital into reablement remained in the community in the 12 weeks following discharge. This metric is new for 2024 to 2025 and was calculated by linking records from social care data with health data to measure outcomes for individuals who received both health and social care (metric 2D (1)).
Main report
This report presents the England-level findings for the ASCOF metrics grouped by the 6 ASCOF objectives:
- quality of life
- independence
- empowerment (information and advice)
- safety
- social connection
- continuity and quality of care
Objective 1: quality of life
The findings in this section provide an insight into the quality of life of people who draw on care and support and unpaid carers. This section also covers whether people are being supported to live the life they want, keeping safe and well.
Metric 1A - quality of life of people who use services
This score is self-reported and calculated using responses from the ASCS to reflect respondents’ self-reported quality of life. The maximum possible score is 24. It is based on 8 important domains of quality of life:
- control over daily life
- dignity
- personal care
- food and nutrition
- safety
- occupation
- social participation
- accommodation
Figure 1: quality of life score for people who draw on long-term support by region, England, 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2023 to 2024 score | 2024 to 2025 score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 19.1 | 19.0 |
| East Midlands | 19.0 | 18.9 |
| East of England | 19.1 | 19.1 |
| London | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| North East | 19.4 | 19.3 |
| North West | 19.1 | 19.1 |
| South East | 19.2 | 19.1 |
| South West | 19.2 | 19.1 |
| West Midlands | 19.1 | 19.2 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 19.3 | 19.2 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’.
In 2024 to 2025, there were around 53,000 respondents who answered all of the 8 questions in the ASCS and there has been no change across England and its regions from 2023 to 2024, to 2024 to 2025. In 2024 to 2025, London (18.5) was the only region with a lower quality of life score compared to the national average (19.0), while the North East was the only region to report a higher score (19.3).
Figure 2: quality of life score for people who draw on long-term support by region and age group, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 18 to 64 score | 65 and over score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 19.5 | 18.7 |
| East Midlands | 19.3 | 18.6 |
| East of England | 19.5 | 18.8 |
| London | 19.0 | 18.2 |
| North East | 20.0 | 19.0 |
| North West | 19.6 | 18.8 |
| South East | 19.4 | 18.8 |
| South West | 19.6 | 18.7 |
| West Midlands | 19.7 | 18.8 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 19.9 | 18.8 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, all quality of life scores for people aged 18 to 64 who draw on long-term care and support services were higher than for those aged 65 and over across the different regions and at a national level.
For people receiving long-term support services aged 18 to 64, London (19.0) was the only region with a lower quality of life score compared to the national average (19.5), while the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber were the only regions to report a higher score (20.0 and 19.9 respectively).
For those aged 65 and over, London (18.2) was the only region with a lower quality of life score compared to the national average (18.7), while all other regions reported quality of life scores similar to the national average.
Within the same regions, when comparing the difference in scores between 18 to 64 year olds and those 65 and over, the difference in scores range from 0.6 to 1.1 points.
Figure 3: proportion of level of care need met for people who draw on long-term support by domain of quality of life, England, 2024 to 2025
| Quality of life domain | Needs fully met | Needs mostly met | Needs partially met | Needs unmet | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control over your daily life | 34.4 | 42.9 | 17.7 | 5.0 | 100 |
| Keeping clean and presentable | 55.8 | 37.4 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 100 |
| Getting enough sleep or eating well | 62.6 | 30.6 | 5.5 | 1.3 | 100 |
| Cleanliness of your home or care home | 65.2 | 29.3 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 99.9 |
| Personal safety | 70.1 | 24.1 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 100 |
| Social contact | 45.4 | 31.6 | 16.2 | 6.8 | 100 |
| How you spend your time | 38.2 | 30.6 | 23.8 | 7.4 | 100 |
| How you are helped and treated | 62.7 | 27.1 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 100 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025. Note: figures may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
This figure shows the breakdown of the 8 domains used in the ASCS to measure quality of life, alongside the level to which needs are met. Most people either have their needs fully met or mostly met for all categories. Around 94% of people said their needs for personal safety (70.1% plus 24.1%), a clean home (65.2% plus 29.3%), and sleeping and eating well (62.6% plus 30.6%) were mostly or fully met.
The areas with the highest levels of partially met or unmet need were around support with how people spend their time (31.2%), social contact (23.0%) and control over their daily life (22.7%).
Metric 1B - adjusted quality of life of people who use services
Metric 1B measures the impact of social care on the quality of life of people who draw on long-term support.
This is calculated using responses to the ASCS to give an overall score based on peoples’ self-reported quality of life. It is a composite metric using the same 8 domains as metric 1A, but adjusted to account only for the additional impact of local authority funded social care on quality of life, removing non-service-related factors. The questions covered are the same as those used to calculate metric 1A. A lower score indicates worse quality of life and a higher score indicates better quality of life. There are no established thresholds for what ‘good’ looks like for this metric.
Figure 4: adjusted quality of life score for people who draw on long-term support by region, England, 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2023 to 2024 score | 2024 to 2025 score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 0.417 | 0.419 |
| East Midlands | 0.421 | 0.426 |
| East of England | 0.427 | 0.434 |
| London | 0.399 | 0.404 |
| North East | 0.415 | 0.414 |
| North West | 0.420 | 0.417 |
| South East | 0.418 | 0.411 |
| South West | 0.417 | 0.420 |
| West Midlands | 0.435 | 0.436 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 0.416 | 0.424 |
This data is shown in table 1b of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’.
There was no change in the adjusted quality of life score for people who draw on long-term support at the national or regional level between 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. In 2024 to 2025, the only region with a lower adjusted quality of life score than the nation average (0.419) was London (0.404). The 2 regions with a higher adjusted quality of life score than the national average was the East of England (0.434) and West Midlands (0.436).
Metric 1C - quality of life of carers
Metric 1C is an outcome metric that measures the quality of life of unpaid carers. It is calculated using responses to the SACE.
This metric gives an overall score based on respondents’ self-reported quality of life using the following 6 questions measuring different outcomes:
- occupation
- control
- personal care
- safety
- social participation
- encouragement and support
This metric gives an overall indication of reported outcomes for unpaid carers and does not identify the specific contribution of adult social care services towards those outcomes. The maximum possible score is 12.
Figure 5: quality of life score for unpaid carers by region, England, 2021 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024
| Region | 2021 to 2022 score | 2023 to 2024 score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| East Midlands | 7.1 | 7.3 |
| East of England | 7.3 | 7.4 |
| London | 7.1 | 7.2 |
| North East | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| North West | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| South East | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| South West | 7.1 | 7.2 |
| West Midlands | 7.2 | 7.4 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 7.4 | 7.3 |
This data is shown in table 1c of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’.
The national reported quality of life score for unpaid carers was 7.3 in the most recent survey (SACE, 2023 to 2024), unchanged from the 2021 to 2022 survey.
Figure 6: quality of life score for unpaid carers by age group, England, 2023 to 2024
| Region | 18 to 64 score | 65 and over score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| East Midlands | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| East of England | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| London | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| North East | 7.5 | 7.8 |
| North West | 7.0 | 7.6 |
| South East | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| South West | 6.9 | 7.4 |
| West Midlands | 7.1 | 7.6 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 7.0 | 7.6 |
This data is shown in table 1c of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2023 to 2024, all quality of life scores for unpaid carers aged 18 to 64 were lower than for those aged 65 and over across the different regions and at a national level except for the East Midlands and the North East.
For unpaid carers aged 18 to 64, the South East (6.8) was the only region with a lower quality of life score compared to the national average (7.0), while the North East was the only region to report a higher score (7.5).
For those aged 65 and over, the North West (7.8) was the only region with a higher score than the national average (7.5), while all other regions reported quality of life scores the same as the national average.
Within the same regions, when comparing the difference in scores between 18 to 64 year olds and those 65 and over, the difference in scores range from 0.3 to 0.6 points.
Figure 7: proportion of level of needs met by domain of unpaid carer quality of life, England, 2023 to 2024
| Quality of life domain | Needs met | Needs partially met | Needs unmet | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you spend your time | 16.0 | 66.2 | 17.8 | 100 |
| Control over your daily life | 21.5 | 63.3 | 15.1 | 99.9 |
| Getting enough sleep or eating well | 46.7 | 33.1 | 20.2 | 100 |
| Personal safety | 81.0 | 17.2 | 1.9 | 100.1 |
| Social contact | 30.0 | 51.2 | 18.7 | 99.9 |
| Encouragement and support | 32.4 | 46.5 | 21.1 | 100 |
This data is shown in table ‘T1a - answers by council’ of the ‘Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023-24: data tables’ in the Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023 to 2024. Note: figures may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Figure 7 shows the breakdown of the 6 domains used in the SACE to measure unpaid carer quality of life, alongside the level to which needs are met. This year, 84.0% of people reported that their needs were only partially met or unmet regarding how they spend their time (66.2% partially met, 17.8% unmet). Similarly, 78.4% had unmet needs around control over daily life (63.3% partially met, 15.1% unmet), and 69.9% had unmet needs related to social contact (51.2% partially met, 18.7% unmet).
Metric 1D - overall satisfaction of people who use services with their care and support
Metric 1D measures the satisfaction with services of people who draw on long-term support, which is directly linked to a positive experience of care and support.
Scores are calculated from the response to the ASCS question: ‘How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the care and support services you receive?’, or the question: ‘How happy are you with the way staff help you?’ in the easy read version of the ASCS questionnaire.
In 2024 to 2025, across England, 65.1% of people who use long-term care and support services were satisfied with their care and support. This was similar to 2023 to 2024 (65.4%).
Figure 8: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who were ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the care they receive by region and age group, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 18 to 64 score | 65 and over score |
|---|---|---|
| England | 68.7 | 62.6 |
| East Midlands | 67.0 | 61.9 |
| East of England | 69.5 | 64.3 |
| London | 64.5 | 57.7 |
| North East | 71.3 | 63.7 |
| North West | 69.8 | 62.3 |
| South East | 68.9 | 63.3 |
| South West | 70.1 | 64.0 |
| West Midlands | 70.2 | 64.6 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 70.4 | 63.9 |
This data is shown in table 1d of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
Across England, satisfaction is higher among people aged 18 to 64 (68.7%) compared with those aged 65 and over (62.6%). This pattern is consistent across all regions, with a notable gap of around 5 to 7 percentage points.
For those aged 18 to 64, London was the only region with a lower level of satisfaction (64.5%) than the national average (68.7). All other regions had a similar level of satisfaction as the national average.
For adults aged 65 and over, London was the only region with a lower level of satisfaction (57.7%) than the national average (62.6%). All other regions had a similar level of satisfaction as the national average.
Figure 9: proportion of people who draw on long-term support by level of satisfaction with services, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of satisfaction | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| Extremely or very satisfied | 65.1 |
| Quite satisfied | 23.7 |
| Neither satisfied or dissatisfied | 6.5 |
| Quite dissatisfied | 2.6 |
| Extremely or very dissatisfied | 2.1 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the accompanying ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025.
Overall satisfaction is high, with 65.1% of all people reporting they were either ‘very’ or ‘extremely satisfied’. Adding those who are ‘quite satisfied’ increases this to 88.8%, meaning nearly 9 in 10 users have some level of satisfaction with the services they receive. Only 4.7% of people expressed any level of dissatisfaction (‘quite’, ‘very’, or ‘extremely dissatisfied’).
Metric 1E - overall satisfaction of unpaid carers with social services (for them and for the person they care for)
Metric 1E measures the satisfaction with services for unpaid carers, which is self-reported through the SACE. Satisfaction is directly linked to a positive experience of care and support.
Scores are calculated from the responses to the SACE question: ‘Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the support or services you and the person you care for have received from social services in the last 12 months?’
In the most recent survey (SACE, 2023 to 2024), 36.7% of unpaid carers reported overall satisfaction with social services.
Figure 10: proportion of unpaid carers who were ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the care they receive by region, England, 2023 to 2024
| Region | 2021 to 2022 (%) | 2023 to 2024 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 36.3 | 36.7 |
| East Midlands | 37.2 | 36.7 |
| East of England | 35.4 | 35.4 |
| London | 31.8 | 33.0 |
| North East | 42.0 | 44.9 |
| North West | 37.3 | 37.3 |
| South East | 33.7 | 35.4 |
| South West | 37.8 | 37.6 |
| West Midlands | 34.6 | 38.6 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 37.7 | 36.4 |
This data is shown in table 1e of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’.
According to the latest survey (2023 to 2024), across England satisfaction levels have remained stable, from 36.3% in 2021 to 2022 to 36.7% in 2023 to 2024. In 2023 to 2024, the North East had a higher level of satisfaction (44.9%) than the national average and London had a lower level of satisfaction (33.0%) than the national average.
Figure 11: proportion of unpaid carers by level of satisfaction with services, England, 2023 to 2024
| Level of satisfaction | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| I am extremely satisfied | 13.1 |
| I am very satisfied | 23.7 |
| I am quite satisfied | 30.3 |
| I am neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 17.4 |
| I am quite dissatisfied | 7.5 |
| I am very dissatisfied | 3.6 |
| I am extremely dissatisfied | 4.4 |
This data is shown in table ‘T1a - answers by council’ of the ‘Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023-24: data tables’ in the personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023 to 2024.
In the latest survey (2023 to 2024), a third of all unpaid carers (36.8%) report they were either ‘very’ or ‘extremely satisfied’. Adding those who are ‘quite satisfied’ increases this to 67.1%. In 2023 to 2024, 15.5% of unpaid carers expressed some level of dissatisfaction (‘quite’, ‘very’, or ‘extremely dissatisfied’).
Objective 2: independence
The findings in this section provide an insight into whether people are enabled by adult social care to maintain their independence and, where appropriate, regain it.
Metric 2A - the proportion of people who received reablement during the year, who previously were not receiving services, where no further request was made for ongoing support (official statistic in development)
Metric 2A provides an insight into whether local authorities are maximising independence and delaying dependency on, reducing and preventing further care needs.
This metric is derived from CLD for the first time for 2024 to 2025 and should not be compared with figures from previous years derived from the SALT collection.
The cohort includes people aged 18 or older who received short-term support to maximise independence (ST-Max), also referred to as reablement, who had not received long-term support in the previous 3 months, that is, ‘new’ clients.
Sequels describe the immediate outcome after reablement. They are used to identify whether a person went on to require further support or, alternatively, whether their reablement successfully helped them regain independence. Sequels are identified by considering any services that started during the ST-Max episode or in the 7 days after it ended, as well as the information captured through assessments or reviews occurring in the same period. More information is available in ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - methodologies for metrics derived from client level data’, published alongside this report.
Figure 12: proportion of people who received reablement, who were not previously receiving services, where no further request was made for ongoing support, by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 77.1 |
| East Midlands | 81.1 |
| East of England | 74.0 |
| London | 75.3 |
| North East | 74.7 |
| North West | 78.5 |
| South East | 80.0 |
| South West | 86.0 |
| West Midlands | 68.5 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 74.2 |
This data is shown in table 2a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 77.1% of adults across England required no further ongoing support immediately following a period of short-term services.
The proportion of adults requiring no further ongoing support in 2024 to 2025 was highest in the South West (86.0%) and lowest in the West Midlands (68.5%). This could partly reflect differences in the effectiveness of reablement services, but also access and the health and circumstances of those offered reablement.
Figure 13: proportion of people who received reablement, who were not previously receiving services, where no further request was made for ongoing support by region and age group, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 18 to 64 (%) | 65 and over (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 78.0 | 77.0 |
| East Midlands | 80.1 | 81.2 |
| East of England | 73.5 | 74.0 |
| London | 73.5 | 75.7 |
| North East | 75.0 | 74.7 |
| North West | 84.0 | 77.2 |
| South East | 80.5 | 79.9 |
| South West | 87.8 | 85.7 |
| West Midlands | 64.6 | 69.0 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 78.1 | 73.7 |
This data is shown in table 2a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
When looking at the difference in outcomes by age, the gap varies across regions. Higher scores for adults aged 18 to 64 and 65 and over were seen in the South West (87.8% and 85.7% respectively) and the lowest in the West Midlands (64.6% and 69.0% respectively). These differences could partly reflect differences in eligibility criteria for reablement, as well as service effectiveness.
Metrics 2B and 2C - the number of adults aged 18 to 64 (2B) and 65 and over (2C) whose long-term support needs are met by admission to residential or nursing care home (per 100,000 population) (official statistic in development)
These metrics provide an insight into whether local authorities are supporting people to remain in the community and independent for as long as possible. These metrics also provide an insight into whether people who use long-term care services are supported by joined up health and social care services at a neighbourhood level.
These metrics include people aged 18 or older who were admitted to long-term residential or nursing care provided or organised by the local authority between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. This includes people who fund their own care where they have asked the local authority to organise their care under Section 18 (3) of the Care Act 2014 (‘full-cost clients’) and is irrespective of the location of the care home.
This metric does not capture people who self-fund and organise their own care without involvement from the local authority. Self-funding will be most prevalent in local authorities with higher levels of income and wealth, which may affect these local authorities’ results.
These metrics are derived from CLD for the first time for 2024 to 2025 and should not be compared with figures from previous years derived from the SALT collection.
Figure 14: rate of people aged 18 to 64 who were admitted to a residential or nursing care home per 100,000 population by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Rate per 100,000 population |
|---|---|
| England | 17.0 |
| East Midlands | 18.9 |
| East of England | 15.1 |
| London | 11.6 |
| North East | 20.2 |
| North West | 21.3 |
| South East | 16.0 |
| South West | 17.0 |
| West Midlands | 20.4 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 17.6 |
This data is shown in table 2b of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
For 2024 to 2025, admission rates were 17 people per 100,000 population for adults aged 18 to 64 and 593 people per 100,000 population for adults aged 65 and over. Higher admission rates among people aged 65 and older likely reflect greater care needs, while lower rates for ages 18 to 64 may also indicate better access to effective community-based support.
The number of adults aged 18 to 64 whose long-term support needs are met by admission to residential or nursing care home was highest in the North West (21.3 admissions per 100,000 population) and lowest in London (11.6). Three out of the 9 regions report fewer admissions than the England average. Regional variations may reflect differences in the availability of residential and nursing care provision, as well as the effectiveness of community based support.
Figure 15: rate of people aged 65 and over who were admitted to a residential or nursing care home per 100,000 population by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Rate per 100,000 population |
|---|---|
| England | 592.5 |
| East Midlands | 561.2 |
| East of England | 573.6 |
| London | 433.3 |
| North East | 755.5 |
| North West | 672.0 |
| South East | 559.8 |
| South West | 584.8 |
| West Midlands | 639.0 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 631.6 |
This data is shown in table 2c of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
The number of adults aged 65 and over whose long-term support needs are met by admission to a residential or nursing care home was highest in the North East (756 admissions per 100,000 population) and lowest in London (433).
Metric 2D - the proportion of people aged 65 and over who were discharged from hospital into reablement, and who remained in the community in the 12 weeks following discharge (official statistic in development)
This metric is new for ASCOF 2024 to 2025 and is based on linking social care and health records using NHS numbers. It replaces the previous SALT metric which measured whether people were at home 91 days after hospital discharge. While it continues to measure outcomes for people who received reablement after hospital, changes to data sources, definitions and methodology mean this is a different metric and cannot be compared with the previous ASCOF 2D metric. For more information see the accompanying ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’.
This metric shows how well people are supported after leaving hospital. It reflects how well health and social care services work together to ensure smooth discharge, effective reablement and fewer readmissions. It is a 2-part metric which reflects both the outcomes for people after receiving reablement services (part 1) and the provision of the service (part 2).
In this context, reablement is defined as services which are intended to be time limited and provided in the home, for the purpose of maximising the independence of the individual and reducing or eliminating their need for ongoing support by the local authority. It only covers reablement arranged or provided by the local authority, including support jointly-funded or delivered by NHS trusts, reported in CLD. CLD excludes NHS-funded intermediate care, which in some areas accounts for a substantial proportion of post-discharge support.
In 2024 to 2025, 5.7% of adults discharged from hospital aged 65 and over were provided a reablement service. Of those who were provided a reablement service, 60.7% remained in the community in the 12 weeks following discharge, demonstrating positive short-term outcomes.
For the purposes of this metric, people are counted as remaining in the community if they were not admitted to local authority arranged or provided long-term residential or nursing care, were not readmitted to hospital as an emergency (unplanned) admission and were alive throughout the 12 weeks following their hospital discharge.
Figure 16: proportion of people aged 65 and over discharged from hospital into reablement and who remained in the community in the 12 weeks following discharge, by gender and region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Female (%) | Male (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 63.7 | 56.2 |
| East Midlands | 61.7 | 53.9 |
| East of England | 61.2 | 52.9 |
| London | 66.0 | 59.2 |
| North East | 64.2 | 55.5 |
| North West | 64.4 | 59.2 |
| South East | 69.2 | 61.0 |
| South West | 64.6 | 58.6 |
| West Midlands | 61.8 | 53.2 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 61.9 | 54.7 |
This data is shown in table 2d(1) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
Figure 16 shows the percentage of people who remained in the community in the 12 weeks following hospital discharge, by gender across English regions. Across England, 63.7% of females remained in the community after 12 weeks, compared to 56.2% for males. The highest proportion of people who remained in the community was in the South East, at 69.2% for females and 61.0% for males.
Table 1: number of people aged 65 and over who were discharged from hospital and received reablement, who did not remain in the community in the 12 weeks following discharge, by outcome, England, 2024 to 2025
| Outcomes | Number of people |
|---|---|
| Readmitted (only outcome) | 33,970 |
| Died (only outcome) | 4,000 |
| Entered long-term care (only outcome) | 1,120 |
| Re-admitted and died | 7,055 |
| Re-admitted and entered long-term care | 950 |
| Entered long-term care and died | 40 |
| Re-admitted, entered long-term care and died | 75 |
This data is shown in table 2d (1) - additional of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
Table 1 shows the number of people who did not remain in the community by outcome, for England. Some individuals experienced more than one adverse outcome, such as being readmitted into hospital and then entering long term residential or nursing care. This table shows how many people experienced each combination of outcome (readmitted into hospital, admitted into long term residential or nursing care, or died).
Of the 47,210 people who did not remain in the community in the 12 weeks following hospital discharge:
- 89.1% (42,050) were admitted back into hospital as an unplanned (emergency) admission
- 23.7% (11,170) of people died during the 12 weeks
- 4.6% (2,185) of people were admitted into local authority arranged or provided long-term residential or nursing care
As mentioned above some people experienced multiple outcomes, hence these proportions do not sum to the total.
This metric captures a broader set of outcomes following reablement (such as hospital readmission) and over a longer period compared to ASCOF 2A, hence outcomes are expected to be much lower for ASCOF 2D compared to ASCOF 2A.
Metric 2E - the proportion of people who receive long-term support who live in their home or with family (official statistic in development)
This metric captures the proportion of people who draw on long-term support and who continue to live at home or with family, providing an insight into how effectively services promote independence and reduce or delay admission to residential or nursing care.
This metric is derived from CLD for the first time for 2024 to 2025 and should not be compared with figures from previous years derived from the SALT collection. This is also the first time this metric has been published for all adults, including older adults.
In 2024 to 2025, 77.4% of people aged 18 to 64 and 60.3% of people aged 65 and over in receipt of long-term services remain living in their home or with family.
Figure 18: proportion of people aged 18 to 64 who receive long-term support who live in their home or with family by gender and region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Female (%) | Male (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 78.2 | 76.7 |
| East Midlands | 79.5 | 75.4 |
| East of England | 81.0 | 79.0 |
| London | 79.9 | 78.0 |
| North East | 84.2 | 81.0 |
| North West | 79.9 | 80.3 |
| South East | 78.2 | 77.2 |
| South West | 73.8 | 73.2 |
| West Midlands | 75.5 | 73.1 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 72.4 | 71.2 |
This data is shown in table 2e(2a) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
The chart shows the percentage of people who draw on long-term care and support services, aged 18 to 64, who live in their home or with family, split by gender across English regions. Across England, 78.2% of females lived in their home or with family compared to 76.7% of males.
At a regional level, the North East reported the highest proportion for both females (84.2%) and males (81.0%) aged 18 to 64. In contrast, Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the lowest proportions (72.4% for females and 71.2% for males).
Figure 19: proportion of people who draw on long-term support aged 65 and over who live in their home or with family by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Female (%) | Male (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 59.7 | 61.4 |
| East Midlands | 61.0 | 63.0 |
| East of England | 59.0 | 60.3 |
| London | 72.1 | 71.6 |
| North East | 54.5 | 57.1 |
| North West | 61.0 | 62.8 |
| South East | 56.9 | 59.3 |
| South West | 56.5 | 58.8 |
| West Midlands | 57.7 | 58.3 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 53.2 | 55.9 |
This data is shown in table 2e(2b) of the accompanying ODS file ‘ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcomes and demographic data tables’.
Figure 19 shows consistent outcomes between men and women across most regions, with differences typically within 3.0 percentage points. London reported the highest proportion for both females (72.1%) and males (71.6%). Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the lowest rates (53.2% for females and 55.9% for males). Nationally, 59.7% of females aged 65 and over drawing on long-term support lived at home or with family, compared to 61.4% of males.
Figure 20: proportion of people who draw on long-term support aged 18 to 64 and with a learning disability who live in their home or with family by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Female (%) | Male (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 81.7 | 81.4 |
| East Midlands | 83.2 | 83.4 |
| East of England | 79.1 | 78.1 |
| London | 81.8 | 80.8 |
| North East | 89.1 | 87.8 |
| North West | 88.1 | 87.6 |
| South East | 80.2 | 79.9 |
| South West | 75.5 | 76.2 |
| West Midlands | 78.7 | 77.6 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 80.6 | 79.7 |
This data is shown in table 2e(1) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 81.4% of people who draw on long-term care and support services who are aged 18 to 64 and have a learning disability, live in their home or with family. There was little difference between males (81.2%) and females (81.7%).
The North East (88.3%) had the highest proportion of people with learning disabilities living in their own home or with family, and the South West (76.0%) had the lowest proportion.
Objective 3: empowerment (information and advice)
The findings in this section provide an insight into whether people are given the right type of information and advice to have full choice and control over their care and support.
Metric 3A - proportion of people who use services who report having control over their daily life
Metric 3A measures the proportion of people who draw on long-term support who report having control over their daily life. The metric is calculated by using responses from the ASCS to the question: ‘Which of the following statements best describes how much control you have over your daily life?’
Figure 21: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who reported having ‘as much control over my daily life as I want’ or ‘adequate control over my daily life’ by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 77.3 |
| East Midlands | 77.5 |
| East of England | 78.7 |
| London | 72.0 |
| North East | 79.7 |
| North West | 78.5 |
| South East | 78.2 |
| South West | 78.5 |
| West Midlands | 77.4 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 78.4 |
This data is shown in table 3a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 77.3% of people who draw on long-term support reported that they have control over their daily life. This was similar to 2023 to 2024 (77.6%). The North East was the only region to report a higher proportion of control over daily life (79.7%) compared to the national average, while London was the only region to report a lower proportion (72.0%).
Figure 22: proportion of people who draw on long-term support by level of control of daily life, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of control | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| I have as much control over my daily life as I want | 34.4 |
| I have adequate control over my daily life | 42.9 |
| I have some control over my daily life but not enough | 17.7 |
| I have no control over my daily life | 5.0 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the accompanying ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025.
Figure 22 shows the responses received regarding control over daily life. This year, 34.4% of people reported that they have as much control over their daily life as they want and 42.9% reported having adequate control. Meanwhile, 5.0% reported that they have no control.
Metric 3B - the proportion of carers who report that they have been included or consulted in discussion about the person they care for
Metric 3B measures the proportion of unpaid carers who report that they have been involved in discussions about the person they care for.
The metric is calculated by using responses from the SACE to the question: ‘In the last 12 months, do you feel you have been involved or consulted as much as you wanted to be, in discussions about the support or services provided to the person you care for?’
Figure 23: proportion of unpaid carers who have been included or consulted in discussions about the person they care for by region, England, 2023 to 2024
| Region | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 66.4 |
| East Midlands | 66.6 |
| East of England | 67.1 |
| London | 62.7 |
| North East | 72.7 |
| North West | 65.5 |
| South East | 66.0 |
| South West | 67.1 |
| West Midlands | 66.9 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 67.7 |
This data is shown in table 3b of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In the most recent survey (2023 to 2024), 66.4% of unpaid carers in England felt that they had been included or consulted in discussions about the person they care for. This is an increase from the last unpaid carers survey in 2021 to 2022 (64.7%). The North East (72.7%) was the region with the highest proportion of unpaid carers being included or consulted and was the only region higher than the national average. London (62.7%) was the region with the lowest proportion of unpaid carers being included or consulted and the only region below the national average.
Figure 24: proportion of unpaid carers by the level of involvement and consultation in discussions for their cared for person, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level on involvement and consultation | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| I always felt involved or consulted | 36.9 |
| I usually felt involved or consulted | 29.5 |
| I sometimes felt involved or consulted | 25.1 |
| I never felt involved or consulted | 8.4 |
This data is shown in table ‘T1a - answers by council’ of the ‘Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023-24: data tables’ in the personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023 to 2024.
Over a third (36.9%) of unpaid carers reported always feeling involved or consulted. Combining those who ‘usually’ felt involved gives 66.4%, showing two-thirds of unpaid carers feel regularly consulted. Meanwhile, 8.4% of unpaid carers said they never felt involved.
Metric 3C - access to information on care and support services
Metric 3C measures the proportion of people who draw on care and support and unpaid carers who have found it easy to find information about services and/or support.
This metric reflects peoples’ experience of access to information and advice about social care. This metric has 2 parts.
Part 1 is focused on people who draw on long-term support and is calculated by using responses from the ASCS question: ‘In the past year, have you generally found it easy or difficult to find information and advice about support, services or benefits?’.
In the 2024 to 2025 survey, 67.8% of people who draw on long-term support found it easy to access information, unchanged from 67.9% in the 2023 to 2024 survey.
Figure 25: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who found it easy to find information or advice by region, England, 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2023 to 2024 (%) | 2024 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| England | 67.9 | 67.8 |
| East Midlands | 65.0 | 65.3 |
| East of England | 67.5 | 66.3 |
| London | 66.5 | 67.0 |
| North East | 71.1 | 73.1 |
| North West | 69.5 | 67.7 |
| South East | 69.5 | 67.3 |
| South West | 67.6 | 68.6 |
| West Midlands | 65.3 | 68.0 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 69.0 | 69.5 |
This data is shown in table 3c(1) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - time-series data’.
In 2024 to 2025, the only region that had a proportion of people who draw on long-term support and who found it easy to access information and support about services that was higher than the national average was the North East (73.1%). All other regions reported similar results to the national average.
Figure 26: proportion of people who draw on long-term support by how easy it was to find information or advice by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Gender | Very easy to find | Fairly easy to find | Fairly difficult to find | Very difficult to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 27.6 | 39 | 20.6 | 12.8 | 100 |
| Male | 32.8 | 36.6 | 19.5 | 11 | 99.9 |
This data is shown in table 1a of the accompanying ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025.
Seven out of 10 (69.4%) of males found it ‘very easy’ or ‘fairly easy’ to find information and advice compared to 66.6% for females. Meanwhile, 12.8% of females found it very difficult to find information, compared to 11.0% of males.
Part 2 focuses on unpaid carers and is calculated by using responses from the SACE question: ‘In the last 12 months, have you found it easy or difficult to find information and advice about support, services, or benefits? Please include information and advice from different sources, such as voluntary organisations and private agencies as well as social services.’
In the most recent survey (2023 to 2024), 59.1% of unpaid carers found it easy to find information, which was similar to the previous 2021 to 2022 survey (57.7%).
Figure 27: proportion of unpaid carers who found it easy to find information or advice by region, England, 2023 to 2024
| Region | 2023 to 2024 (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 59.1 |
| East Midlands | 56.4 |
| East of England | 58.2 |
| London | 53.1 |
| North East | 68.0 |
| North West | 58.7 |
| South East | 60.5 |
| South West | 60.9 |
| West Midlands | 60.8 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 59.5 |
This data is shown in table 3c(2) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2023 to 2024, London (53.1%) was the only region that reported a lower proportion of unpaid carers who found it easy to find information about services compared to the national average. All other regions were similar to the England average.
Figure 28: proportion of unpaid carers by how easy it was to find information or advice by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of finding information and advice | Very easy to find | Fairly easy to find | Fairly difficult to find | Very difficult to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 13.1 | 45.4 | 28.4 | 13.0 | 100 |
| Male | 14.5 | 46.0 | 27.5 | 12.0 | 100 |
This data is shown in table ‘T1a - answers by council’ of the ‘Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023-24: data tables’ in the personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023 to 2024.
In 2023 to 2024, 60.5% of males who are unpaid carers found it ‘very easy’ or ‘fairly easy’ to find information and advice compared to 58.5% for females. Meanwhile, 13.0% of females found it ‘very difficult’ to find information, compared to 12.0% of males.
Metric 3D - the proportion of people using social care who receive self-directed support, and those receiving direct payments (official statistic in development)
This metric measures whether people who draw on long-term support and unpaid carers are receiving self-directed support (parts 1a and 2a) and direct payments (parts 1b and 2b) to personalise their care and support services. This metric provides an insight into whether people who use long-term or unpaid carer services have a level of independence and choice and control over their support.
These metrics are derived from CLD for the first time for 2024 to 2025 and should not be compared with figures from previous years derived from the SALT collection.
Part 2 - unpaid carers
Parts 1b and 2b cover unpaid carers. Following our review of the July 2025 CLD submissions, the national number of unpaid carers recorded in CLD for 2024 to 2025 remains significantly below the figure reported through the previous SALT collection for 2023 to 2024. To avoid misinterpretation, this year’s ASCOF excludes CLD metric 3D parts 1b and 2b of local authority support for unpaid carers.
Part 1 - long-term care and support
For 3D(1a), nearly everyone receiving long-term community support should have a personal budget, meaning that the proportion of people receiving self-directed support should be close to 100%. However, figures for 2024 to 2025 derived from CLD for many local authorities fall below this, likely due to data quality issues rather than practice. See ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - client level data quality statement’ for more details. Previous years’ figures based on SALT data were near 100%. For this reason, figures for 3D(1a) are included in the data tables for completeness but are excluded from the commentary as comparisons are not meaningful.
Figure 29: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who received a direct payment by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2024 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 24.5 |
| East Midlands | 33.6 |
| East of England | 21.4 |
| London | 24.0 |
| North East | 19.8 |
| North West | 22.7 |
| South East | 23.7 |
| South West | 23.5 |
| West Midlands | 25.7 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 28.1 |
This data is shown in table 3d(2a) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
Across England, 24.5% of people who draw on long-term support receive a direct payment. The highest proportion of people receiving direct payments was in the East Midlands (33.6%) and lowest was in the North East (19.8%).
Among people drawing on long-term support, 35.5% of those aged 18 to 64 received a direct payment, compared with 13.6% of those aged 65 and over. Yorkshire and the Humber (42.4%) had the highest proportion of people aged 18 to 64 receiving a direct payment, compared with London (32.1%) and the South West (32.1%). For people aged 65 and over, the East Midlands (20.4%) had the highest proportion of direct payments, while the North East had the lowest (8.2%).
Objective 4: safety
The findings in this section provide an insight into whether people feel safe and are supported to understand and manage risks.
Metric 4A - the proportion of people who use services who feel safe
Metric 4A measures how safe people who draw on long-term support feel. This metric is one of the components that feeds into the calculation of the ‘social care-related quality of life’ metrics (ASCOF 1A and 1B). Safety is fundamental to the wellbeing and independence of people drawing on care and support, and the wider population.
This metric is based on responses to the ASCS question: ‘Which of the following statements best describes how safe you feel?’ Respondents can choose from the following options:
- I feel as safe as I want
- generally, I feel adequately safe, but not as safe as I would like
- I feel less than adequately safe
- I don’t feel at all safe
The metric is calculated using these responses, with the top answer (‘I feel as safe as I want’) being the main contributor to this metric.
Figure 30: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who feel safe by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2024 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 70.1 |
| East Midlands | 68.1 |
| East of England | 70.7 |
| London | 67.3 |
| North East | 74.1 |
| North West | 70.0 |
| South East | 70.1 |
| South West | 69.9 |
| West Midlands | 72.2 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 71.5 |
This data is shown in table 4a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 70.1% of people using long-term care and support services reported that they felt safe. Both the North East (74.1%) and the West Midlands (72.2%) had a higher proportion of people feeling safe than the national average (70.1%). London (67.3%) was the only region with a lower proportion of people feeling safe than the national average.
Figure 31: proportion of people who draw on long-term support by how safe they feel by age group, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of safety | 18 to 64 (%) | 65 and over (%) |
|---|---|---|
| I feel as safe as I want | 68.9 | 71.0 |
| Generally I feel adequately safe, but not as safe as I would like | 23.9 | 24.3 |
| I feel less than adequately safe | 4.4 | 3.5 |
| I don’t feel at all safe | 2.8 | 1.3 |
This data is shown in table 2b of the accompanying ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025.
This year, 95.3% of people aged 65 and over report that they feel safe (71.0% plus 24.3%) compared to 92.8% of people aged 18 to 64 (68.9% plus 23.9%). Meanwhile, 2.8% of people aged 18 to 64 do not feel safe at all compared to 1.3% of people aged 65 and over.
Metric 4B - the proportion of section 42 safeguarding enquiries where a risk was identified, and the reported outcome was that this risk was reduced or removed
This metric looks at the management of risk in safeguarding enquiries conducted under section 42 of the Care Act 2014. It cannot be used to make judgements on how effective local authorities are at keeping adults safe from abuse and neglect. Nor can it be used to benchmark local authorities against each other, due to the different reporting and practices used to discharge their statutory duties.
In 2024 to 2025, 91.2% of section 42 enquiries where a risk was identified had an outcome of the risk being reduced or removed.
Figure 32: proportion of section 42 safeguarding enquiries where a risk was identified and the risk was reduced or removed by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2024 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 91.2 |
| East Midlands | 92.2 |
| East of England | 93.4 |
| London | 91.1 |
| North East | 90.3 |
| North West | 90.9 |
| South East | 91.1 |
| South West | 88.2 |
| West Midlands | 86.5 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 93.4 |
This data is shown in table 4b of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, the regions with the highest proportion of outcomes being the risk was removed or reduced was highest in the East of England (93.4%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (93.4%) and lowest in the West Midlands (86.5%).
Objective 5: social connections
The findings in this section provide an insight into whether people have meaningful connections with family and friends and are supported to remain active in their community.
Metric 5A - levels of social contact
Metric 5A measures the proportion of people who draw on long-term support and unpaid carers, who reported that they had as much social contact as they would like.
This metric draws on self-reported levels of social contact from people who draw on long-term support and unpaid carers. This metric also provides an insight into social isolation across the 2 groups. This is a 2-part metric:
Part 1 is calculated by using responses from the ASCS to the question: ‘Thinking about how much contact you’ve had with people you like, which of the following statements best describes your social situation?’
Part 2 is calculated by using responses from the SACE to the question: ‘Thinking about how much social contact you’ve had with people you like, which of the following statements best describes your social situation?’
Part 1: the proportion of people who use services who reported that they had as much social contact as they would like
In 2024 to 2025, 45.4% of people who draw on long-term support reported that they have as much social contact as they would like.
Figure 33: proportion of people who draw on long-term support who have as much social contact as they would like with the people they like by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | 2024 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 45.4 |
| East Midlands | 44.7 |
| East of England | 43.0 |
| London | 42.2 |
| North East | 48.1 |
| North West | 46.1 |
| South East | 46.2 |
| South West | 45.2 |
| West Midlands | 46.7 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 48.1 |
This data is shown in table 5a(1) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 48.1% of people drawing on long-term support in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions reported they had as much social contact as they would like which was higher than the national average (45.4%). In contrast, in London (42.2%) and the East of England (43.0%) there was a lower proportion of people drawing on long-term support that had as much social contact as they would like and was lower than the national average. The remaining regions - East Midlands, North West, South West, South East and West Midlands - reported results similar to the national average.
Figure 34: proportion of people who draw on long-term support by how much social contact they have with people they like by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of social contact | I have as much social contact as I want with people I like | I have adequate social contact with people | I have some social contact with people but not enough | I have little social contact with people and feel socially isolated | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 44.4 | 31.5 | 17.3 | 6.9 | 100 |
| Male | 46.8 | 31.8 | 14.6 | 6.8 | 100 |
This data is shown in table 2a of the accompanying ‘Personal social services ASCS, England: 2024 to 2025 - question responses and demographic data tables’ in the Personal social services adult social care survey report, England: 2024 to 2025.
This year, 78.6% of males report that they have at least adequate social contact (46.8% plus 31.8%) compared with 75.9% for females (44.4% plus 31.5%). People who feel socially isolated is similar for both age bands.
Part 2: the proportion of carers who reported that they had as much social contact as they would like
In the most recent survey (SACE, 2023 to 2024), 30.0% of unpaid carers reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is an increase from 28.0% in the 2021 to 2022 survey.
Figure 35: proportion of unpaid carers who have as much social contact as they would like with the people they like by region, England, 2023 to 2024
| Region | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 30.0 |
| East Midlands | 29.2 |
| East of England | 31.1 |
| London | 29.8 |
| North East | 35.0 |
| North West | 30.4 |
| South East | 25.9 |
| South West | 28.4 |
| West Midlands | 32.2 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 32.0 |
This data is shown in table 5a(2) of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
Just under a third of unpaid carers in most regions across England feel they have sufficient social contact. This low figure suggests widespread social isolation among unpaid carers. The North East (35.0%) had a higher proportion than the national average (30.0%) of carers who reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. The South East (25.9%) had a lower proportion than the national average of unpaid carers who reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. All other regions, East Midlands, East of England, London, North West, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, were similar to the national average.
Figure 36: proportion of unpaid carers by how much social contact they have with people they like by gender, England, 2024 to 2025
| Level of social contact | I have as much social contact as I want with people I like | I have some social contact with people but not enough | I have little social contact with people and feel socially isolated | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 29.8 | 52.1 | 18.1 | 100 |
| Male | 30.7 | 49.2 | 20.1 | 100 |
This data is shown in table ‘T1a - answers by council’ of the ‘Personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023-24: data tables’ in the personal social services survey of adult carers in England, 2023 to 2024.
Just below a third of male and female unpaid carers have as much social contact as they would like. Meanwhile, 20.1% of males and 18.1% of females have little social contact and feel socially isolated.
Objective 6: continuity and quality of care
The findings in this section provide an insight into whether people receive quality care, underpinned by a sustainable and high-quality care market and a skilled workforce.
Metric 6A - the proportion of staff in the formal care workforce leaving their role in the past 12 months
This metric is not an outcome but has been included as a proxy for continuity of care, which in turn affects the quality of life of people who draw on care and support. This metric also represents a proxy for workforce work-related quality of life, as evidence shows that staff are more likely to stay in their role if they feel supported.
Figure 37: proportion of the formal care workforce who left their role in the past 12 months by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| England | 23.7 |
| East Midlands | 24.8 |
| East of England | 23.5 |
| London | 19.8 |
| North East | 23.8 |
| North West | 23.5 |
| South East | 25.2 |
| South West | 25.8 |
| West Midlands | 23.3 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 24.4 |
This data is shown in table 6a of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
In 2024 to 2025, 23.7% of staff in the formal care workforce left their roles compared to 24.8% in 2023 to 2024. The proportion of staff in the formal care workforce leaving their role in the past 12 months was highest in the South West (25.8%) and South East (25.2%), and lowest in London (19.8%).
Metric 6B - the percentage of residential adult social care providers rated good or outstanding by CQC
Metric 6B measures the percentage of care home providers rated good or outstanding by CQC.
This metric gives an indication of the quality of care provision within the geographical footprint of a local authority. This metric excludes home care as these services often operate across several local authorities and therefore assigning them to one local authority based on their postcode may be misleading. This metric also includes residential care provided to self-funders and NHS funded clients, which is not usually included in our data return from local authorities.
Figure 38: proportion of care home providers rated good or outstanding by CQC by region, England, 2024 to 2025
| Region | Proportion of good or outstanding (%) | Proportion of other (%) | Proportion not yet rated (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 80.0 | 19.9 | 0.2 |
| East Midlands | 76.8 | 22.9 | 0.3 |
| East of England | 76.4 | 23.5 | 0.1 |
| London | 87.0 | 12.9 | 0.1 |
| North East | 86.7 | 13.2 | 0.1 |
| North West | 77.8 | 22.2 | 0.1 |
| South East | 81.3 | 18.5 | 0.2 |
| South West | 84.6 | 15.1 | 0.3 |
| West Midlands | 75.7 | 24.3 | 0.1 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 76.0 | 23.7 | 0.3 |
This data is shown in table 6b of the accompanying ODS file ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - outcome and demographic data tables’.
As of March 2025, 80.0% of residential adult social care providers were rated good or outstanding in England. Residential adult social care providers in the North East (86.7%) have the highest proportion and the lowest is in the West Midlands (75.7%).
Information on the metrics and data sources
About these statistics
This is a yearly publication by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) of official statistics on adult social care in England. Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and the Code of Practice for Statistics, and meet high standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value.
These statistics are being published as a part of a series of statistics on adult social care. The Government Statistical Service compiles a UK adult social care database of official statistics on adult social care across the 4 nations of the UK. This is updated monthly.
These statistics are assessed regularly and any improvements in quality are incorporated accordingly at the next available opportunity. The scope of the data included in this publication is also assessed to ensure the value of these statistics is maintained. Data collection may change in response to shifts in priorities, leading to corresponding adjustments in this bulletin’s reporting.
Methodology
The 2024 to 2025 ASCOF has been calculated using the updated handbook of definitions.
Further details on the methodology for metrics derived from CLD are available in the document ‘Measures from ASCOF, England: 2024 to 2025 - methodologies for metrics derived from client level data’ published alongside this report.
Revisions
Any revisions to past publications will be in line with DHSC’s revision policy and highlighted in future publications accordingly.
Contact
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