Essex County Council (18 018 156)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 12-Nov-2019

Summary: The Council accepts there were faults in the way that it assessed Mr D’s care charges, in particular the Disability Related Expenditure (DRE). It has agreed to apologise to Mr D, review his DRE, and make a payment of £450 in recognition of the anxiety caused by its failures, and the time and trouble in pursuing the complaint.

Sunderland City Council (19 006 825)

Statement Not upheld Assessment and care plan 12-Nov-2019

Summary: The investigation into Ms X’s complaint about how the Council assessed her care needs will be discontinued. She is now receiving support from the Council and is satisfied with that support.

Liverpool City Council (19 007 114)

Statement Not upheld Assessment and care plan 12-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms B complained about actions the Council took in response to concerns raised by social services, in respect of applying for a school place for her daughter and in respect of a complaint about a teacher at her daughter’s previous school. We find fault with the time taken to offer her daughter a school place but we do not find fault with the Council’s actions in the other areas.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (19 009 549)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 11-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr A’s complaint about the lack of communication and support provided to his father, Mr B, by the Council. This is because the Council has apologised for its failure and advised of changes in processes to minimise the risk of similar occurrences happening again. It is unlikely any further investigation by the Ombudsman could make a different finding or add to this.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 488)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 11-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms A’s complaint about inaccuracies and omissions in a report prepared by an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP). This is because the Ombudsman could not make a finding of fault.

Worcestershire County Council (18 011 231)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 08-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr B complains the Council misled him regarding funding for his mother’s care home. The Ombudsman considers there was poor communication by the Council. The Council has agreed a remedy.

Essex County Council (18 015 232)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 07-Nov-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s assessment of Mrs Y’s needs and delays with this and a financial assessment. She says the Council wrongly charged Mrs Y, dealt inadequately with her complaints, and caused distress, unnecessary costs, time and trouble. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the assessments and charging. However, the Council delayed responding to Mrs X’s complaint and setting up a deferred payments arrangement. It also did not provide a copy of Mrs Y’s assessment. It will reimburse £3,579.78, apologise to Mrs X and ensure people receive copies of assessments in future.

North Yorkshire County Council (19 010 277)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 06-Nov-2019

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council’s 2016 Continuing Healthcare checklist was flawed. We cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants and he can make a retrospective application to the NHS for Continuing Healthcare funding.

East Sussex County Council (18 019 096)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 04-Nov-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council assessed the late Mr and Mrs Y’s finances. Mr X said this caused Mr and Mrs Y to run out of funds and Mr Y to be devastated and desperately worried. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the assessment but some fault in delays completing it. The Council has already apologised, and this has remedied any injustice.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 009 595)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 02-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a financial assessment carried out by the Council. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for the Ombudsman to exercise its discretion to investigate.