Birmingham City Council (21 017 596)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 31-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council responded to a safeguarding referral. This is because the Council has upheld most of the complaint and it is unlikely an investigation would achieve anything more. If the complainant thinks the Council is withholding information he is entitled to, then the Information Commissioner’s Office is the appropriate body to consider this issue.

London Borough of Bexley (21 007 746)

Statement Not upheld Safeguarding 30-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss X complained on behalf of her mother, Mrs Y, that the Council wrongly initiated a safeguarding enquiry because of non-payment of care home charges. Miss X says she tried to resolve the issue, but the Council did not properly communicate with her. Miss X says the Council’s actions caused avoidable stress and anxiety. We find no fault by the Council regarding this matter and have concluded our investigation.

Devon County Council (21 016 767)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s safeguarding investigation. There is not sufficient evidence of fault by the Council to justify investigating.

East Sussex County Council (21 011 045)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 25-Mar-2022

Summary: Dr B complained ESC Council and the NHS Trust failed to properly safeguard her when it undertook an investigation into allegations of physical assault when she lived in a care home jointly funded by the CCG and BHC Council. She also complained about the home’s investigation and its decision to serve notice to end the placement. We found fault in the safeguarding protection plan put in place by ESC Council and as a result Dr B experienced avoidable distress. We also found fault in the way the jointly funded home completed its investigation, and this is likely to have meant Dr B missed an opportunity to have her views and outcomes properly recorded. The Councils and the CCG agreed to our recommendations and will arrange for Dr B to receive a written apology for the injustice caused. ESC Council will also remind its officers of the importance of updating safeguarding documentation.

Cornwall Council (20 011 656)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 25-Mar-2022

Summary: There was delay in the support the Council had agreed to provide to Mr C, particularly in managing his finances. There was poor communication with Mrs B and the Council should have held a multi-disciplinary risk meeting earlier. Mrs B suffered an injustice as a result as she was often left to provide support for Mr C. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs B and pay her £300.

Nottinghamshire County Council (21 013 693)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 24-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the outcome of the Council’s safeguarding enquiry after he raised a concern that his brother was being financially abused. This is because there is no sign of fault by the Council.

Devon County Council (21 011 227)

Statement Not upheld Safeguarding 23-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council's handling of allegations about his care for his partner and its decision that his partner should receive care in a nursing home. I have ended my investigation because most of the issues Mr X complained about occurred too long ago. There was also insufficient evidence of fault, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (21 016 891)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Safeguarding 23-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s safeguarding investigation into the care of Mrs X’s husband in a care home. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to warrant this. Mrs X is welcome to return to us about matters at the care home that were not safeguarding issues if she has first completed the care home’s complaints procedure.

Hertfordshire County Council (20 001 982)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 22-Mar-2022

Summary: The commissioned care provider inappropriately implemented its emergency hospital admission procedure when Mrs X was agitated after a fall. It failed to offer her prescribed pain relief. It was poor practice on the part of the care provider to tell Mrs X’s family she would be “sectioned” and caused considerable distress. The Council on behalf of the care provider will now apologise to Mrs X’s family, offer a sum to recognise their distress, and provide details of the remedial actions taken by the care provider.

Liverpool City Council (21 006 413)

Statement Not upheld Safeguarding 21-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council has not properly completed a safeguarding enquiry. The Council is not at fault.