Councils have called on the government to scrap plans for a single word rating system for adult social care services.

The plans, which are set to be introduced in the autumn following a series of pilots, will see services labelled with an overall rating of Inadequate, Requires Improvement, Good or Outstanding by the CQC.

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “It is clear that most councils are struggling to meet all of their legal duties under the Care Act. Given that, it seems absurd to push ahead with single word ratings for adult social care departments, which would oversimplify what are very complex services to deliver. As it stands, councils are being set up to fail. 

“The government must ensure that the assurance process is, and remains, productive and supportive for councils. Sufficient time must be given to learn the lessons from the pilot sites.

“Councils want to give full transparency to their residents on how their adult social care services are performing, but a single word rating does not do justice to the complex and parlous state that adult social care is in.

”Working with people who draw on care and support, councils and care providers, the government also needs to urgently develop and implement a fully costed, long-term, sustainable plan to fund social care.”

The LGA, which represents 350 councils across England, said narrative reports – instead of single word ratings alone – would provide a more useful and balanced picture of the quality of services.

The latest Association of Directors of Adult Social Services survey found three-quarters of directors of adult social care are not confident they can meet their legal duties under the Care Act – these are the duties against which they will be assessed by the new CQC assurance system.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Care Quality Commission ratings provide clear, transparent and accessible information about performance and are used effectively as part of CQC provider inspections.

“The ratings are also accompanied by explanatory notes, designed to give context to the ratings.   

“The CQC has worked in partnership with local government leaders, people who draw on care and support, and care providers to develop the local authority assurance framework.”