Adult social care survey 2026
About the survey
This national survey is being carried out by the County Council on behalf of NHS England, in early February 2026. The survey is sent out by post to about 2,500 long-term service users.
All local authorities with adult social care responsibilities in England, including the County Council, must carry out this survey every year.
Purpose
The results will be used by the County Council and NHS England to monitor how effectively we are supporting long term service users. We will use the results of the survey to inform decisions about how services are supplied so it is vital that as many service users as possible complete the survey and return it to us.
The survey focuses on the implementation of the 2014 Care Act which aims to deliver greater personalisation to service users. It asks service users about their quality of life, choice and control, the impact of services and their general health and wellbeing. Carer's services are not included in the survey.
Type of questions
The survey contains questions relating to the impact of services, control over daily living, safety, social contact, finding information about services and general wellbeing. The responses will be collected and then published by NHS England to monitor satisfaction with long term services we provide, and Hampshire (but not individual people) will be identifiable in these results.
Who receives the survey
Anyone aged 18 or over who is receiving adult social care services funded by the County Council is eligible to receive the survey. The service could be residential care, nursing care, domiciliary care, supported living, day care or a Direct Payment.
What we do with survey responses
Your answers are collected by Hampshire County Council. Your answers are confidential and will not be passed on to anyone directly providing you with services.
We will use the information you have provided to improve services. We may use the information to contact you about your answers.
We will anonymise the results, so no one can directly identify you, by removing all your personal details (name, address, postcode, date of birth) before sharing the information with NHS Digital (the national information and technology organisation supporting health and social care services).
These anonymised findings are then published and used by researchers and organisations such as the Department of Health and Social Care to help improve services.
Data protection
Our legal basis for the use of your information is UK GDPR Article 6 1 e 'task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority' and Article 9 2 h ‘management of social care’. We will keep your information for up to seven years.
You have some legal rights in respect of the personal information we collect from you. Please see our Data Protection page for further details.
You can contact the County Council’s Data Protection Officer:
Email:[email protected]
If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, you should raise your concern with us in the first instance or direct to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The survey has also been subject to ethical review by the Social Care Research Ethics Committee.
Visual impaired and non-English speakers
Service users with a visual impairment can request a large print version of the survey. People who cannot read English can request a version of the survey in their own language. For these matters, or if you need help completing the survey, please call 0370 779 1551.
More information about the survey is available from GOV.UK.
Read the national report for the previous adult social care survey.