Derbyshire County Council (20 002 690)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 24-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the way the Council handled Mrs B’s request to progress her complaint to stage two of the children’s services statutory complaints process. This means Mrs B was denied an independent investigation. The Council agrees actions to remedy the injustice.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (19 019 421)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 23-Nov-2020

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s decision not to prioritise an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The Council took account of all relevant circumstances, including the complainant’s husband’s condition, and gave clear reasons for its decision. There is also no evidence the Council failed to respond to enquiries about its policies, or failed in its duties under the Care Act. However, the Council was at fault for a delay in providing a piece of assistive equipment to the complainant, for which it has agreed a remedy.

South Ribble Borough Council (19 021 172)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 18-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of a disabled facilities grant and, in particular, that a local land charge was registered against his property. The Council was not at fault.

London Borough of Croydon (19 014 751)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 28-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss B complains about how the Council dealt with her application for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The Council did take her family’s views into account and progressed the application properly. It was late in making some payments to the builders. However, it has now made all the payments due and has apologised to Miss B for the late payments.

Broxtowe Borough Council (20 003 788)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 28-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Miss B’s complaint about the housing repairs team’s service. This is because her complaint is about what the Council has done as a landlord managing its social housing.

Leeds City Council (20 004 746)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 28-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council refused to arrange repairs to the work it funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant in 2013. This is because we would be unlikely to find fault.

St Albans City Council (19 019 072)

Statement Not upheld Disabled facilities grants 26-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about how the Council handled his application for a Disabled Facilities Grant. He says that delays meant he had to rent a house to care for his mother as he could no longer do so at his house. The delay was largely caused by Mr B pursuing works above and beyond those recommended by the Occupational Therapist and because his caring responsibilities meant he was unable to manage the project himself. There was no fault by the Council.

Leicester City Council (19 015 876)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 22-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to carry out the agreed works under a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). There was a change to the specification of works which the Council failed to put in writing. This was fault. However, we found the change to the specification was necessary and followed professional advice. So, on balance we did not conclude Mrs X paid for more works than were necessary to complete the adaptation of her home. The Council agreed to recognise the time and trouble Mrs X was put to pursuing her complaint and to review some if its procedures.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (19 017 908)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 12-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr C complained the Council incorrectly placed a charge on his property for works completed following the death of his wife. He also complained the Council delayed completing outstanding works arising from the Disabled Facilities Grant. The Ombudsman finds the Council was at fault for not providing Mr C with a revised approval of costs for the reinstatement works. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused to Mr C.

Wakefield City Council (20 003 659)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled facilities grants 08-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a stairlift. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, it is a late complaint and because the Council is working with the complainant to try and find a solution.