London Borough of Croydon (22 015 720)

Statement Not upheld Transition from childrens services 17-Aug-2023

Summary: Mrs D complains about the Council’s decision not to award her daughter a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass and its delay in dealing with her application. We found no fault.

Devon County Council (22 005 782)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 21-Jun-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of her son, Mr Y. She complained about the adequacy of the Council’s investigation of her complaints regarding the support provided to Mr Y when he became an adult. There was no fault in the way the Council considered the complaint through the statutory children’s complaint procedure. There was delay in the complaints process and the Council should apologise for the uncertainty this caused.

Devon County Council (22 008 327)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 29-May-2023

Summary: Mrs B complained the Council failed to provide her son with an education placement and education, health and care provision for over three years. She also complained the Council failed to review her son’s education, health and care plan during this time. Mrs B said because of this her son’s mental health declined and he missed the opportunity to gain qualifications and develop independence skills. The Council was at fault for failing to review Mrs B’s son’s education, health, and care plan. It will make a payment to C to remedy the uncertainty caused by its fault.

London Borough of Southwark (22 011 943)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 10-Apr-2023

Summary: There was no fault by the Council which caused delays in the process of arranging a supported living placement for a young person transitioning from child to adult care services. There was also no fault in how the Council carried out a mental capacity assessment of him. However, there was fault by the Council for failing to hold a best interests decision meeting, once it had decided the young person did not have capacity to decide where he should live. Given the time which has now passed, the Council has agreed to remedy the injustice this caused by carrying out a fresh assessment of the young person’s capacity, and then, if appropriate, holding a best interests decision meeting.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (22 003 510)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 13-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr X complained on behalf of his former foster child Mr C. He said the Council had failed to carry out a proper assessment of Mr C under the Mental Capacity Act. He said it also failed to follow statutory guidelines when finalising Mr C’s Education, Health and Social Care Plan or consider the views of Mr C’s family. We find fault with the Council for failing to adhere to the statutory time limits when finalising Mr C’s Education, Health, and Care Plan. It failed to complete a Mental Capacity Assessment with Mr C about his education placement after September 2021. We also find fault with the Council for failing to respond to Mr X’s complaint within its prescribed time limits. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused.

Nottinghamshire County Council (22 005 749)

Statement Not upheld Transition from childrens services 14-Dec-2022

Summary: There is no fault by the Council in relation to its planning for the complainant’s son’s transition from children’s to adult social care. Whilst only limited services have been provided since the complainant’s son became 18, there is no fault by the Council as it offered suitable provision that the complainant would not accept until recently.

Cambridgeshire County Council (21 017 132)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 14-Dec-2022

Summary: Mr B complains on behalf of his adult son, Mr F, about the way the Council managed his transition to adult social care and that it failed to provide him with care and support from July to September 2021. We have found fault which has caused injustice to Mr B. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to acknowledge the distress caused.

Suffolk County Council (22 001 593)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 10-Oct-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council refused to carry out social care assessments and did not provide advice on her son’s social care needs for the review of his Education, Health and Care plan. She also complained about poor communication and complaints handling, which caused frustration and delays, and put her to avoidable time and trouble pursuing the Council. There were failings in the communications and complaints handling. The Council should apologise and make a payment to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Newham (21 014 948)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 29-Sep-2022

Summary: There was fault by the Council because it did not properly plan Miss K’s transition from Children to Adult Services and how it would arrange and fund her care. There was also fault in its complaint handling as it failed to refer Miss K’s complaint to a stage three review panel in accordance with the statutory complaints process. The Council’s shortcomings caused Miss K and her foster carer distress and frustration. They are also left uncertain that some matters might have been resolved had the Council completed the complaints process. The Council has agreed to take the further action I recommended to remedy the complaint.

Gloucestershire County Council (21 015 390)

Statement Upheld Transition from childrens services 29-Aug-2022

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained the Council failed to carry out the recommendations made at Stage 2 and 3 of the statutory complaints process. The Council has provided information about the action it has taken as well as now arranging a meeting as agreed. These actions, along with a symbolic payment for the frustration caused, are a suitable remedy.