New Report Highlights Residents’ Experiences of Accessing Social Care in Barking and Dagenham

The report draws on the experiences of people who have used social care services, alongside the views of residents who have not. While many participants reported positive experiences and would recommend social care to others, concerns were raised around communication, waiting times, service consistency and awareness of available support.

Responding to the findings, Barking and Dagenham Council welcomed the report and said the insights would help shape delivery of its 2025–30 Adult Social Care and Support Plan. The council highlighted ongoing work with GPs to improve referrals, maintain person-centred support, reduce waiting times, improve information and advice, strengthen cultural competency among staff, and raise awareness of social care services. It also noted that waiting times for Occupational Therapy assessments have reduced by 68% to 22 days as of April 2026, and that 75% of people receiving social care recently reported that information and advice were easy to find, up from 68% the previous year.

The report includes recommendations for local providers and highlights opportunities to improve both service access and public understanding of social care.

Download the report by clicking the button below.