Salford residents have faced waits of almost five years for residential social care financial assessments, according to figures published by Salford City Council.
The longest recorded wait reached 1,793 days in August, up from 1,640 days in March, as the council continues work to improve its adult social care services.
The figures show that 185 people were waiting for residential financial assessments in August, only one fewer than in March. The median waiting time also increased over the period, from 276 days to 336 days.
Financial assessments help determine how much someone may need to contribute towards the cost of their residential care.
The council is working to improve adult social care following an inadequate rating from the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator, published in May.
The authority has since been working through an improvement programme intended to address concerns about how it assesses and meets residents’ needs.
The figures were included in an Adult Social Care Improvement Update presented to Salford City Council’s Health and Adults Scrutiny Panel on October 7.
The report also highlighted delays in other parts of the service. The number of people waiting for an initial occupational therapy assessment fell from 596 in March to 497 in August, but the median wait increased from 119 days to 132 days.
The number of people waiting for a care assessment rose from 228 to 248 over the same period, while the median wait increased from 26 days to 37 days.
In September, Health and Care Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the appointment of Professor Graeme Betts as Salford’s improvement adviser. Her letter said a non-statutory response was considered appropriate at present, while statutory intervention remained an option if sufficient improvement was not made.
The council’s update said a Waiting Well process had been in place since June. It includes guidance for staff to prioritise cases, escalation procedures for people considered at risk, information packs and follow-up calls.
However, the figures show that the longest recorded wait for a residential financial assessment continued to increase between March and August.
The issue is due to return to the Health and Adults Scrutiny Panel as part of its work programme, with further adult social care improvement updates scheduled for February and April 2027.
The forthcoming reviews will provide further opportunities for councillors to examine progress that seems so far to have stalled.
The reports, so far, have not set a specific target for reducing the longest residential financial assessment waits.
