Implementation of the single assessment process requires a "no pain, no gain" attitude, the head of older people and social care at the Department for Health has said.

Raymond Warburton told a conference last week that many councils viewed the implementation of the SAP for older people as a "bad dream". But he warned councils against trying to achieve perfection. "Remember you are trying to deliver person-centred care where you can exercise your judgement."

Warburton added that he was confident that councils would achieve the April 2004 deadline, despite many agencies making slow progress. He also said that the government was considering introducing SAP in other areas, such as housing.

But Dwayne Johnson, the Association of Directors of Social Services' lead on single assessment, revealed that 60 per cent of 131 councils who responded to a recent survey had admitted they would not be able to meet the deadline.

SAP ensures that assessments are carried out without the disorganised intervention of agencies. It was announced three years ago as part of the National Service Framework for Older People.

The conference in London was organised by care consultancy Laing and Buisson.