Millions of pounds of funding put into social care last year did nothing to improve the financial prospects of 84% of providers, a report states.

Investment included £365million in ringfenced funding to councils to boost adult social care provision, plus £15million to help recruitment from abroad.

According to a joint assessment by learning disability charity Hft and Care England, which represents providers, this “should have been seen and felt” on the ground.

But in their poll of 122 organisations, many said local authorities placed conditions on them accessing 2023 funding.

Some 43% closed a part of their organisation or handed back contracts last year as costs shot up.

Calling for “root and branch reform” rather than short-term fixes, Care England head Professor Martin Green said the data point to “a worsening crisis amid the Government’s narrative of ‘record investment'”.