City of York Council (19 004 193)

Statement Upheld Charging 15-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to properly consider the law and guidance when deciding Mrs W deliberately deprived herself of capital to avoid care charges. The Council’s decision is not fully in line with the guidance, which means it is flawed and this causes injustice as it is in doubt. The Council needs to reconsider its decision.

Essex County Council (19 002 910)

Statement Upheld Charging 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council tried to recover costs for the late Mrs Y’s care charges. The Ombudsman finds fault as the Council sent demands with incorrect costs. This left Mrs Y’s husband believing he had to pay more for Mrs Y’s care costs. The Council has agreed to write off the remaining care costs, and review its procedures for invoicing.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (19 007 652)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms B complains the Council put a legal charge on her mother’s property which the family knew nothing about. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is a late complaint which falls outside our jurisdiction.

Nottinghamshire County Council (18 019 993)

Statement Not upheld Charging 14-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council’s new policy on making contributions to the costs of home care is unfair and has caused her daughter financial hardship. There was no fault in the Council’s actions.

Lincolnshire County Council (18 013 220)

Statement Not upheld Charging 11-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X says his mother’s estate should not have to pay for his late mother’s care. The Council says Mr X and/or his mother should not have spent money that should have been used for her care. It seeks to recover that money. We do not find the Council at fault.

Nottingham City Council (18 016 064)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 09-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint about the way the Council has dealt with the charges for his father’s care. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (18 019 693)

Statement Upheld Charging 09-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council did not explain the costs involved when his mother went into short term residential care. He also complains the Council did not take into account her housing-related costs when deciding how much she should pay towards her care. The Council was at fault. It should waive some of the costs to remedy the injustice caused.

Durham County Council (18 019 667)

Statement Not upheld Charging 08-Oct-2019

Summary: The representative of the late Mr X complains the Council charged Mr X for care when he was discharged from hospital. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault in how it told Mr X about his charges for care.

Kent County Council (19 006 650)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 07-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms A’s complaint about the way the Council has handled her complaints. This is because there is no ongoing injustice to either Ms A or Mr B warranting an Ombudsman investigation. Where the substantive matters do not themselves warrant investigation; the Ombudsman will not normally consider how the Council has responded to a complaint about them. That is the case here.

North Yorkshire County Council (19 000 947)

Statement Upheld Charging 07-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to tell him that his son would need to contribute to the cost of his day-care. He also complains about errors in the financial assessment and delays in sending invoices. He says the late receipt of a large bill for services caused worry and distress. The Council was at fault for not telling Mr X about the day care charges, errors in its financial assessment and a delay in invoicing him for those charges. It should pay him £500 for the injustice caused.