MOP Healthcare Limited (22 001 140)

Report Upheld Residential care 11-Apr-2024

Summary: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated a complaint about residential services provided to the late Mr X. We found MOP Healthcare Limited: did not properly assess Mr X’s mental capacity after he attempted suicide; failed to process a Deprivation of Liberty safeguard application appropriately; took overly restrictive steps to deprive Mr X of his liberty by continuing 1-1 care despite his social worker and a Community Psychiatric Nurse advising less restrictive measures could be used to maintain his safety; charged Mr X an additional £2,520 a week for the 1-1 care. This meant Mr X was under constant supervision for the last 9 months of his life in Barrowhill Hall Care Home, even when on end-of-life care, due to a flawed capacity assessment. The complainant suffered significant distress and financial loss. The faults could also risk similar restrictions happening to other people.

Suffolk County Council (23 016 981)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that his mother, Mrs D did not know Mr D would have to pay for his care. This is because we could not add to the Council’s response or make a finding of the kind Mr B wants.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 913)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Domiciliary care 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint, as brought by his representative Mr Y, about the care firm commissioned by the Council to provide domiciliary care to him in 2023 and how it responded to his complaints. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation. Even if there were fault, the matters complained of do not cause Mr X such significant personal injustice to justify us investigating. There is no worthwhile outcome an investigation would now achieve for Mr X. We do not investigate correspondence and complaint handling when not investigating the core matters giving rise to the complaint.

Ideal Care Homes Ltd (23 017 086)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult care services because Mr Y has not suffered a significant enough injustice.

Herefordshire Council (23 016 122)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Charging 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult social care charges. There is not enough evidence of fault in the care planning and financial assessment which led to the care charges. It is unlikely an investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited (23 017 368)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Residential care 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged failure by a care provider to apply for NHS funded care for one of its service users. This is because the alleged injustice is speculative and contingent on eligibility being confirmed by the NHS. In any event, we are not the appropriate body to consider eligibility for NHS funded care as this is undertaken by integrated care boards which have their own appeals process.

Essex County Council (23 009 545)

Statement Upheld Domiciliary care 19-Mar-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained about the actions of the care provider arranged by the Council after her father, Mr Y, fell at home. There was fault in how the care provider, acting on behalf of the Council, arranged for Mr Y to go into a care home, without seeking the Council’s approval first. This led to Mr Y being charged for care he would not have been. The Council agreed to apologise, reimburse some of the care fees Mr Y was charged and remind its providers about the correct procedure to follow in future.

Warwickshire County Council (23 012 717)

Statement Not upheld Assessment and care plan 19-Mar-2024

Summary: We do not uphold a complaint about a reduction in Mrs X’s care hours. The Council carried out a review of the care and support plan and agreed an increase in hours. The records indicate Mrs X declined those hours as she does not want personal assistants to do personal care.

Wayside Care Ltd (22 012 009)

Report Upheld Charging 18-Mar-2024

Summary: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated a complaint about charging for residential care.

Derbyshire County Council (23 020 417)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Domiciliary care 18-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about damage to her property. This is because we cannot determine liability for damages. It would be reasonable for Mrs X to make her claim to the Council, and then refer it to the small claims court if she remains dissatisfied.