This report presents the findings from a survey of local authorities in Scotland.
A range of support should be available to challenge local authority decisions about the provision of social care. This should include informal and formal complaints and appeals processes as well as recourse to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
People accessing social care support have reported that the complaints system is often inadequate, with pursuing effective changes to decisions or outcomes seen as a major barrier to appropriate care.
This research is complementary to our inquiry in England and Wales on how older and disabled adults and unpaid carers can challenge local authority decisions about social care and support.