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The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services' performance policy head has called on the government to acknowledge councils' successes, as the adult social care ratings showed a fifth consecutive year of improvement.

David Johnstone, chair of the Adass standards and performance management committee, said adult social services departments had met many challenges thrown at them by government over the last few years. These included cutting delayed discharges and contributing more than other services to council efficiency savings.

However, he added: "There's a lot of concern and criticism but we don't hear enough [from government] about the big pluses and positives."

Adass president Anne Williams said this year's results had all been "secured in the face of fierce budgetary restraint, substantial increases in the numbers of people to be cared for, and some very successfully achieved efficiency targets".

Johnstone said he did not expect the current tough environment for adult care - rising eligibility criteria, increasing numbers of older people and those with complex conditions and a poor 2008-11 funding settlement - to lead to a performance decline next year.

He added: "I think we will still see a continuing line of improvement."

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