Wandsworth: A London leader in social care
Published: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Wandsworth Council is again among the top performing local authorities in London for adult social care. Wandsworth residents in need of care feel well-informed and in control and have a good quality of life, a government report shows.
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The Department of Health and Social Care’s Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) sets out how London boroughs perform across 22 various areas, or ‘indicators’, in meeting adult care needs.
In 2023-2024 Wandsworth was in the top quarter of 12 of these indicators. Seven of the indicators focus on the experience of service users, and Wandsworth was one of the top five boroughs in five of them.
Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet member for health said: “In Wandsworth we are committed to providing excellent social care so that people can live with dignity – and independently in their own homes where possible.
“The high standards identified in this report are very good news, and I’ll like to thank all our staff who work so hard to deliver the support people need and deserve.”
Wandsworth was top of all London boroughs for making it easy for people who use services to find out information about support, and joint second for the proportion of people who have control over their daily life, as much social contact as they would like and a good social care-related quality of life.
It was fourth for the overall satisfaction of people with their care and support. This compares with 2020-21 when it was in the bottom 25 per cent boroughs, showing a huge improvement.
Wandsworth is also top at supporting people to remain independent in their own home following a hospital discharge, is joint top for service users and carers receiving a personal budget and joint top for carers on a direct payment.
Doreen lives in Battersea with her sons Peter and Greg who both receive a direct payment for their support needs. Direct payments can be spent directly by the person receiving them on the support needs they need, such as equipment or a personal assistant.
“The best part about having direct payments is that they enable both boys to go out with their PA and gives me some free time. We all benefit from the support and enjoy a little time for ourselves,” said Doreen.
The ASCOF report also reflects the council’s focus on supporting people to live independently at home whenever possible through reablement services and the use of technology such as video care phones and apps.
And it follows the announcement that Wandsworth has frozen its element of council tax, with residents again paying the lowest bills in the country. High quality social care will be paid for with a two percent adult social care precept.