An unusual plea for people looking at care homes for loved ones has been issued by council leaders - to not set too much stall on official inspection reports.

Norfolk County Council says many ratings for the 450-plus care homes and care providers in the county are years out of date.

They say the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - the independent watchdog which keeps tabs on standards of care - is struggling to get round to re-inspect them.

Norfolk County Council says some of the county's care providers offer a better standard of care than older inspection reports suggestNorfolk County Council says some of the county's care providers offer a better standard of care than older inspection reports suggest (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

The Conservative authority says its own social care team has carried out assurance checks and many providers have made major improvements since previous, critical, inspections.

The council says 35 care homes and nursing providers currently rated inadequate or requiring improvement by the CQC would be judged good or outstanding if inspected now.

Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for adult social careAlison Thomas, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for adult social care (Image: Norfolk Conservatives) Alison Thomas, cabinet member for adult social care, urged families to look at County Hall's own reports - known as PAMMS (Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution) reports - for a more up-to-date picture of care standards.

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Norfolk County Council has carried out its own checks on care homesNorfolk County Council has carried out its own checks on care homes

Mrs Thomas said: "If we have decided that a care home should no longer be considered to be inadequate or requiring improvement, but is good, then CQC say 'thank you very much Norfolk, we've got confidence in your system, so we will direct our limited resources to other local authorities that do not provide us with that assurance'.

"That is a double-edged sword for our care providers, who do a great job, many of whom might be sitting in a level which is not a true reflection of the care and compassion that they provide.

"If you're seeking a care home for your loved one, please go and have a look and then, maybe, engage with the county council to find out whether the level they are assessed at by the CQC is, in our view, accurate.

"I wouldn't want people to steer away from a provision that might be the one nearest to them or one that going to visit they are very pleased with, but use the CQC measure to take their loved one somewhere else."

The county has a lower quality of care compared to some local authority areas, with 75pc of providers rated as good or outstanding.

That is below the national average and the council's 80pc target.

The PAMMS reports for care homes can be viewed at www.pamms.org/adassportal/search.jsp