Wiltshire Council (18 012 941)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 14-May-2019

Summary: Mrs P complained the Council failed to offer her family sufficient respite. At the time her child, Q, was out of school with no provision. The Council has agreed to make a financial settlement, including reimbursing Mrs P for avoidable expenses and for Q’s missed education, and to consider providing respite.

City of Wolverhampton Council (18 012 150)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 03-May-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council was responsible for the decision made by the special school her child attends to temporarily close its after-school club causing distress to her child. We found fault as the communication between the Council and school lacked clarity. But this fault did not cause Mrs X and her child an injustice as the decision to close the club was taken by the school. So, we have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (18 005 716)

Statement Not upheld Disabled children 29-Apr-2019

Summary: Ms X complains the Council delayed making Direct Payments for her son’s respite care when they moved into the Council’s area. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters.

London Borough of Sutton (18 008 914)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 25-Apr-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to deal properly with her requests for support for her disabled child, including respite care. She also complains that it failed to carry out a social care assessment for her child as part of his transfer to an Education Health and Care Plan. The Ombudsman finds that the Council was at fault in the way it dealt with both these matters. It created unnecessary barriers to access to services for a disabled child. The Council has agreed a suitable remedy, including payments to Mrs X, an assessment of her child’s needs and a review of procedures. Mrs X may come back to the Ombudsman after the assessment to consider whether any further remedy is appropriate.