Friends and family carers

London Borough of Lambeth (19 004 604)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 23-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council was at fault in how it reviewed her financial support as a Special Guardian and reduced her allowance. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters so is completing his investigation.

Herefordshire Council (18 016 405)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 23-Mar-2020

Summary: The Council was at fault for backdating Mrs X's special guardianship allowance to the date it completed a delayed financial assessment, rather than the date she asked for support - five months before the assessment. It was also at fault for a delay in applying for therapeutic funding for Mrs X's niece. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X's niece for the delay, and to make a payment of £200 to recognise her injustice. It has also agreed to backdate
Mrs X's special guardianship allowance to the date she first asked for support.

Durham County Council (19 000 889)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms B complained the Council stopped her special guardianship allowance and this caused financial hardship. The Ombudsman has found fault with the Council. The Council did not provide Ms B with budgeting support and it did not record its reason for stopping the allowance adequately. The Ombudsman has recommended actions the Council will take to remedy this injustice.

Nottinghamshire County Council (19 014 250)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 09-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs G question the Council's recalculation of a special guardianship allowance paid to Mrs G for the care of her grandson. We find some fault in the consideration given by the Council to parts of the recalculation. This caused some uncertainty for Mrs G. We have completed the investigation as the Council has now offered a remedy to the complaint which will provide for a satisfactory outcome.

Essex County Council (19 016 035)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 09-Mar-2020

Summary: there is no evidence of fault in relation to Essex County Council's involvement following X's move to live with Mr and Mrs D after his mother became unwell

London Borough of Havering (19 005 990)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 09-Mar-2020

Summary: there is no fault in the Council's consideration of Mr D's request for financial and other support under a Special Guardianship Order or in its handling of Mr D's request for assessment of X's special educational needs. The Council's poor handling of Mr D's complaints amounts to fault and this caused him injustice. The Council will apologise and pay him £500 to recognise this.

Medway Council (18 019 656)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 07-Feb-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has repeatedly underpaid her special guardianship allowance since 2012. The Ombudsman has found fault with the Council. The evidence does not support its calculation of an underpayment it says it made to Mrs X, and its refusal to carry out a Stage 2 investigation did not comply with the law. This caused Mrs X a significant injustice in the form of frustration, uncertainty and put her to the time and trouble of complaining to the Ombudsman to get the independent investigation she was entitled to.

London Borough of Haringey (19 002 884)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 06-Feb-2020

Summary: The Council is at fault as it failed to provide clear, written information to Miss X about what support it could offer with her housing and what action she needed to take following the granting of a special guardianship order for Miss Y. As a result the process of becoming a special guardian for Miss Y was more stressful than necessary and caused Miss X to take unpaid leave. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice to Miss X by sending an apology, making a payment of £500 to acknowledge the distress to Miss X and reimbursing her lost wages. The Council will also review the advice and information it provides to special guardians.

Southampton City Council (19 008 412)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 21-Jan-2020

Summary: The Council was at fault for delays in agreeing funding for an extension to Mr C's property, in order to create an extra bedroom for his grandson who was placed in his care in 2016. This fault has resulted in the family living in cramped conditions. The Council has agreed to offer a payment to remedy this injustice.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (19 003 444)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 20-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain the Council wrongly considers the placement of their grandchildren with them is a family arrangement and it failed to advise them on the options for securing the case of their grandchildren. There is no evidence to show the Council placed the grandchildren with Mr and Mrs X. The Council is at fault as it failed to provide sufficient advice to Mr and Mrs X about securing their care for their grandchildren and it delayed in considering their complaint through the children's services statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by making a payment of £450 to Mr and Mrs X.