Ombudsman investigation finds young Sheffield woman let down by city council A vulnerable young Sheffield woman was told by the city council during its investigation into the abuse she suffered that she could have stopped it sooner if she had spoken up. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman was asked to investigate after the woman and her family felt Sheffield City Council’s own inquiry ...

Council did not do enough to help woman abused by neighbour A Luton woman was verbally abused and harassed by her neighbours – and her local council did not do enough when she called on it to help, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The woman, who lives alone in her privately-owned home, is vulnerable because of her age and chronic medical conditions, which affect both her ...

County man forced to live in car because of council errors A Shropshire man was homeless for too long because the council did not understand its responsibilities towards him, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The man approached the council when he became homeless in the autumn of 2021, and he was provided with interim accommodation. However, the man soon moved out as he sa ...

Council did not do enough to support a woman fleeing violence West Berkshire Council has been criticised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for not doing enough to support a woman and her children who were fleeing threats of violence. The woman had been a tenant in a different council area, in which the police confirmed she was no longer safe. She approached West Berkshire for supp ...

Dorset County Council leaves boy with special needs without proper education A boy with autism was left without proper education for two years by the former Dorset County Council after it failed to provide him with appropriate alternatives when it became clear mainstream school was not suitable for him. The boy, who also has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), started secondary schoo ...

Teenager with autism misses start of term when council cancels transport A teenager who attends a special school missed the start of the school year because Surrey County Council did not tell his mum she needed to reapply for transport, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The Ombudsman upheld the mother’s complaint and in addition to asking the council to put things right fo ...

Mum left in debt after council stopped autistic son’s school transport A Nottingham mum was left unable to pay her bills when she had to pay for a taxi to get her son to his special school, because the city council withdrew his free transport, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The single mum, who is on a low income, had been receiving free taxis to take her son to school. ...

Council school transport policies must not fail young adults with disabilities Councils across England should ensure their education transport policies properly support young adults with disabilities, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said. The warning comes following an investigation about London Borough of Lewisham, in which the council insisted a mother take her adult son to c ...

A tool for change – Ombudsman issues annual review of council complaints The power of a single complaint to improve things for many people is being highlighted by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in its annual review of local government complaints. The report shows the Ombudsman received 17,452 complaints and enquiries about local government in 2017-18, compared with 16,863 in the p ...

Council places woman and autistic son in flat below nuisance neighbour A mother and her autistic son were caused severe distress after they were placed in temporary accommodation below a neighbour who had previous warnings for anti-social behaviour, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The Ombudsman’s investigation found they were placed in the unsuitable accommodation by Bri ...