Suffolk to apologise to family for failing to educate girl for 18 months Suffolk County Council has not done enough to provide an education to a young girl with special educational needs, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The Ombudsman’s investigation found the council failed to provide alternative education to the girl, who has autism, between March 2022 and September 202 ...

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 ...

Clarity for councils about way Ombudsman will investigate financial assessment complaints Councils can now be clear about the way the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman will investigate complaints about financial assessments involving personal injury awards, after an application for a judicial review was thrown out by the High Court. The clarification comes after Wokingham Borough Council ...

Councils that arrange and fund residential care placements This fact sheet is aimed mainly at people who are having problems with their own, or a relative's, residential care and may be thinking about complaining to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy about the way the council has assessed my care needs and organised residential care for me. Can the Ombudsman help me? Sometimes, yes. The Ombudsman cannot ...

Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing This fact sheet is aimed at people who are concerned that the council is not taking appropriate action over issues relating to taxis and private hire vehicles and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy with the way the council has handled my concerns about taxi or private hire vehicle licensing. Can the Ombudsman help me? We ca ...

Disabled boy missed out on education and support because of poor council practice A West Sussex boy missed out on vital support because the county council decided he had the ‘wrong’ type of disabilities, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has reported. The boy, who has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder did not have his social care needs met ...

Pregnant homeless woman left to sleep on hard floor by LB Tower Hamlets A pregnant woman, who approached Tower Hamlets council for help when she was made homeless, was left in an unfurnished flat, miles from her support network, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The woman was left in the flat for three months, and did not even have a bed until she was awarded a grant a mon ...

Essex couple unable to spend as much time as they wanted in final days because of council decision An Essex woman was not able to spend as much time as she wanted with her husband in his final weeks because the county council moved him to a care placement further away from the family home, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The man, who had dementia, had been living in a ca ...

Scrutiny questions Suggested questions to help councillors scrutinise their local services We believe that complaints raised by the public can be an important source of information to help councillors identify issues that are affecting local people. Complaints can therefore play a key part in supporting the scrutiny of public services. Below are range of questions that councillors could ask their ...

Scrutiny questions Suggested questions to help councillors scrutinise their local services We believe that complaints raised by the public can be an important source of information to help councillors identify issues that are affecting local people. Complaints can therefore play a key part in supporting the scrutiny of public services. Below are range of questions that councillors could ask their ...