Be clear about visits to home-schooled children says Ombudsman Councils must be clear with parents of home-schooled children whether home visits are routine or triggered by specific concerns, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said. This comes following an investigation into a complaint about Leicester City Council, after attendance officers visited a family based on unsubstantiat ...

Ombudsman issues second report after South Kesteven District Council used wrong test to consider man’s homelessness The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has taken the unusual step of issuing a further report against South Kesteven District Council for it refusing to pay a remedy to a man who asked for homelessness support. The Ombudsman found that the council failed to properly consider ...

Nuisance from dust or smoke This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns that the council is not taking action about the nuisance from dust or smoke they are experiencing and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Organisations the Ombudsman can look at We hold councils to account for services they pay other organisations, including private companies, to carry o ...

Bus stops and shelters This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about the council’s (or, in London, Transport for London's) actions in respect of local bus stops and shelters and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with decisions the council has made about our local bus stops and shelters. Can the Ombudsman help me? In a few cases, yes. T ...

Ombudsman welcomes Hounslow remedy acceptance A homeless Hounslow mother has been provided with a new home after the council agreed with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s investigation into her case after initially rejecting the Ombudsman’s recommendations. Following a report, published in April, into the woman’s complaint that she was left to sofa surf while pregnant by London Bor ...

Man left street homeless after council failed to recognise domestic abuse Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea did not recognise the abuse a homeless man said he suffered because it did not consider the alleged perpetrator a ‘relative’. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has asked the council to apologise to the man for not recognising he was personally connected to his alleged abu ...

Ombudsman criticises council’s Covid-19 grant allocation scheme The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised the way a north Yorkshire district council administered a discretionary grant scheme which was designed to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. In March and May 2020, the Government introduced grant schemes to support businesses impacted by the pandemic. Businesses who qu ...

Northumberland council asked to look again at man’s disability expenses The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has asked Northumberland County Council to reconsider how it supports a man with disabilities after its failings left him unable to go on holiday. The man, who needs full-time care, said the council did not consider holiday travel and accommodation costs for his care worker as ‘d ...

Isle of Wight Council removes health care support for boy with medical needs A boy, who has visual impairments and other medical conditions, was without the support he needed for months because Isle of Wight Council did not clarify a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Tribunal’s decision in time, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The boy’s Education Health and Care ...

Monthly News February 2020 27 Feb 2020 Council leaves vulnerable Norfolk man without enough care before he died 25 Feb 2020 Council asked to revise transport policy for adult learners with Special Educational Needs 20 Feb 2020 Folkestone council chastised by Ombudsman over housing complaint 12 Feb 2020 Ombudsman reminds councils about care home top-up fees 06 Feb 2020 Luton to review some of its ...