Over 500 adult social care reviews in Doncaster more than 12 months overdue amid national pressures

Over 500 annual reviews for adult social care cases in Doncaster are 12 months late or more.

According to data obtained via a Freedom of Information request (FOI), 567 annual reviews are still outstanding more than a year after they were due, a further 74 are between six and 12 months overdue.

Increasing demand on social care is putting immense strain on local authorities and care providers across the country, with the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, pledging to expend his “political capital” on addressing the issue.

Phil Holmes, executive director for adults, wellbeing and culture at the council and president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Service (ADASS), said: “City of Doncaster Council aims to ensure that all people receiving adult social care have an annual review, latest figures show that we are currently operating at 73% completion rate for this aim.

“Although this is above average compared to the most recent data available for other councils in England (67%) our aspirations are to reach 100%.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to adult social care and hope this will bring increased resources so that everybody receives at least an annual review.”

Social care pressures are leading to people’s needs going unmet, including for adults with learning disabilities, which can lead to workforce shortages amongst a number of issues.

Mr Holmes said: “Doncaster Council does not have anybody awaiting a review because of safeguarding. All safeguarding referrals receive an initial response within 72 hours. In an emergency the response will be immediate.

“We prioritise carefully within the resources we have. People at the greatest risk are prioritised for an annual review. This includes many people who have a learning disability.”

The figures come at the same time a Doncaster father voiced concerns about use of restraint on children with learning disabilities at a council-run education unit.

Scott Allen submitted an FOI to The Levett School which revealed the school had 511 incidents where a child needed to be restrained in the 2024/25 school year, including one involving Mr Allen’s son.

Mr Allen took the council and school to court over the incident, claiming the use of restraint in the incident was not in line with the education, health and care plan (EHCP) for his son.

This was dismissed by a judge as not being based on any “reasonable grounds”. It has led Mr Allen to now question whether the school is doing enough to prevent situations where restraints need to be used.

He said: “Touch is an issue for [my son]. His EHCP says touch is a last resort.”

Mr Allen claimed the incident which led to his son being restrained by Levett School staff was preceded by another pupil “jumping on his back”.

“Why are you letting other kids touch him?” he said.

“Don’t let it happen. Look for the signs. I know teachers are under pressure, I’m never going to deny that… some of them have just reached their limit because work has been put on them more and more. The system is poor,” he added.

A spokesperson for The Levett School said: “We prioritise positive behaviour support and de-escalation, with guides/escorts and restrictive physical intervention used only as a last resort to prevent harm and to keep pupils, staff and the wider school community safe.

“This is common practice in most specialist settings and we work with other specialist and alternative provision schools to routinely benchmark our ways of working.”

They said all incidents are recorded, reviewed and objectively monitored in line with government guidance.

They added: “The Levett School works openly with statutory agencies such as social care, educational psychologists and the police as required, and staff have a lot of expertise in meeting the often complex needs of our pupils.”