Wakefield City Council (19 017 622)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council has decided the complainant does not qualify for free social care because he has deprived himself of savings. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 017 889)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs B’s late complaint about the discharge and support provided to her mother, Mrs C, in 2017. This is because it is unlikely any further investigation by the Ombudsman could add to the Council’s response or make a finding of the kind Mrs B wants. There is no good reason for the Ombudsman to exercise his discretion to investigate this late complaint now.

Leicestershire County Council (19 018 273)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Assessment and care plan 19-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr A and Mr B complained the Council carried out a mental capacity assessment on their mother inappropriately and unnecessarily. The Ombudsman will not consider this complaint further as there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 018 886)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. This is because there is no evidence the alleged fault has caused Ms X any personal injustice. Also, Ms X does not have permission to complain on her relative’s behalf, and even if she did, we cannot consider complaints linked to a person’s employment.

Reading Borough Council (19 005 250)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has failed to address her concerns properly about its handling of her care needs and failed to provide a satisfactory remedy for the injustice it has caused. The Council identified the need for help with medication seven days a week but only provided this five days a week. The Council needs to apologise and provide financial redress.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 005 753)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to deal properly with safeguarding concerns raised in May 2018, involving her now late grandmother, and failed to tell her the outcome. The Council accepts responsibility for a lack of communication with Mrs X about the safeguarding concerns. It has now improved the procedures for dealing with safeguarding concerns, to ensure this does not happen again. It needs to apologise to Mrs X and pay her £350 for the distress caused and trouble she has been put to.

Oxfordshire County Council (19 008 326)

Statement Upheld Residential care 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about an incident that occurred at a Council commissioned care home which she says led to her father’s death. There were faults by the care home, acting on the Council’s behalf, which the Council identified through its safeguarding investigation. The care provider has already taken appropriate action to learn from the faults identified and to make improvements to its service.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (19 008 359)

Statement Upheld Charging 18-Mar-2020

Summary: The Council is at fault as it did not give adequate consideration to Ms X’s appeal of January 2018 for disability related expenditure. The fault by the Council caused uncertainty and avoidable time and trouble to Ms X. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by apologising to Ms X and making a payment of £100 to Ms X which is in addition to a payment offered of £100 already offered by the Council.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (19 008 936)

Statement Upheld Domiciliary care 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to provide appropriate care and support to her grandmother, Mrs Y, causing Mrs Y to suffer a painful death. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault causing Mrs Y and her family distress. He recommends the Council provides an apology, makes a payment and acts to prevent recurrence.

North Yorkshire County Council (19 013 234)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has failed to assess her needs properly, by deciding she no longer has eligible care needs and removing her personal budget. There are flaws with the Council’s assessment. It needs to offer Mrs X a further assessment.