Eight local authorities in England have been told they must urgently improve their social care services for adults.
The Care Quality Commission found overall improvement, with 95% of councils in the top two categories.
But its annual report rated one in four care homes for the elderly as being adequate at best and found large variations in areas and providers.
Poole, Cornwall, Solihull, Surrey, South Tyneside, Southwark, Peterborough and Bromley are to get extra support.
The report covers independent providers of care services as well as an assessment of England’s 148 local authorities.
