MOP Healthcare Limited (22 001 140)

Report Upheld Residential care 11-Apr-2024

Summary: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated a complaint about residential services provided to the late Mr X. We found MOP Healthcare Limited: did not properly assess Mr X’s mental capacity after he attempted suicide; failed to process a Deprivation of Liberty safeguard application appropriately; took overly restrictive steps to deprive Mr X of his liberty by continuing 1-1 care despite his social worker and a Community Psychiatric Nurse advising less restrictive measures could be used to maintain his safety; charged Mr X an additional £2,520 a week for the 1-1 care. This meant Mr X was under constant supervision for the last 9 months of his life in Barrowhill Hall Care Home, even when on end-of-life care, due to a flawed capacity assessment. The complainant suffered significant distress and financial loss. The faults could also risk similar restrictions happening to other people.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (23 017 245)

Statement Not upheld Assessment and care plan 02-Apr-2024

Summary: The Council acknowledged some failings in the assessment of Mrs Y care needs and made recommendations to address this before the complaint came to this office. Any further investigation by this office could achieve no more.

Durham County Council (23 017 519)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 02-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s removal of the complainant’s family member from their care. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making, so we cannot question its decisions. Only the courts can make a decision in the circumstances.

Cheshire East Council (23 018 594)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council disallowing the complainant’s mother to leave her care own against her wishes. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion. We cannot investigate the complainant’s other concerns about alleged defamatory statements made against him during legal proceedings. This is because we have no legal jurisdiction to investigate what happens in a court of law.

Staffordshire County Council (23 011 353)

Statement Upheld Charging 02-Apr-2024

Summary: There is fault by the Council. It took too long to do a financial assessment. It cannot show that it made sure Mrs D understood that her mother-in-law would have to contribute to the care home charges, as well as the family pay a third party top up. It is likely that this impacted on the choice of home and led to distress when the Council sent an unexpected bill.

Dorset Council (23 012 712)

Statement Not upheld Assessment and care plan 02-Apr-2024

Summary: There is no evidence the Council failed to consider all relevant facts when Mrs X had to move out of her previous care home. The complaint is not upheld.

Colleycare Limited (23 017 517)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Residential care 01-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Care Provider responded when Ms X raised concerns on two occasions. Investigation by the Ombudsman would not result in a different outcome, as the Care Provider has already addressed the issues sufficiently and there is insufficient evidence its actions caused a significant injustice.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 017 540)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 01-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the outcome of an adult’s care needs assessment. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 017 675)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 01-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the amount of time it took the Council to complete Mrs B’s carers assessment or the communication issues she had with staff about the assessment. This is because we could not achieve anything worthwhile by investigating.

West Sussex County Council (23 018 091)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 01-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to remove her support for cleaning and laundry following a care reassessment. This is because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused by the likely fault.