Wayside Care Ltd (22 012 009)

Report Upheld Charging 18-Mar-2024

Summary: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated a complaint about charging for residential care.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (23 011 431)

Statement Upheld Charging 11-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed carrying out a financial assessment for his mother Mrs Y’s contribution to her care costs and then wrongly decided his mother has deprived herself of assets to avoid care costs. There was no fault in the way the Council decided Mrs Y had deprived herself of assets. Through its complaints investigation the Council identified faults with its initial decision making regarding deprivation, delay in the financial assessment process and in information provided to the family. It offered to apologise and pay Mr X £250 which was appropriate. It also agreed to take action to prevent recurrence of the faults.

Suffolk County Council (23 008 102)

Statement Upheld Charging 08-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision to charge her for care and support, and for backdating the charges, despite earlier telling her she would not have to pay. We found the Council at fault for delays in the re-assessment process, for failing to properly explain its decision, and for failing to acknowledge Miss X’s evidence and vulnerability.

Birmingham City Council (23 014 276)

Statement Not upheld Charging 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mr C’s complaint about how the Council has charged him for his late father’s care. The Council has now offered to waive the outstanding charges and has also offered Mr C a symbolic remedy for any injustice he has been caused. This means there is nothing we could add by investigating the complaint further.

Hampshire County Council (23 014 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about backdated care charges for residential care. This is because the Council has properly conducted a financial assessment to determine care charges. We consider there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Lancashire County Council (23 015 012)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to involve Mr X in decision relating to his uncle’s care and support. He also complains about the Council’s management of his uncle’s finances. This is because the alleged faults have not caused any significant injustice.

Durham County Council (23 016 735)

Statement Upheld Charging 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s communication when adult social care charges changed. The Council has apologised for the upset caused by not communicating with relevant representatives and is considering how to change process to ensure it communicates correctly in future. We are satisfied with the actions the Council has taken; it is unlikely an Ombudsman investigation would achieve anything further.

London Borough of Lewisham (23 003 243)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 07-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council recovering care fees. This is because we cannot investigate where the complainant has sought a remedy in court.

Advinia Health Care Ltd (23 010 246)

Statement Upheld Charging 07-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss B complains that her late mother’s care home has refused to refund overpaid care fees to her estate. We found fault by the Care Provider in its communication which caused injustice. The Care Provider has agreed to remedy this.

Kent County Council (23 013 638)

Statement Not upheld Charging 07-Mar-2024

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mr C’s complaint about how the Council charged his father for care. The Council has now offered to waive the outstanding charges and has also offered Mr C and his father symbolic remedies for any injustice they have been caused. This means there is nothing we could add by investigating the complaint further.