Hackney to review rejected Blue Badge applications from past 16 months following Ombudsman investigation Drivers in Hackney who have been refused a Blue Badge can apply to have their cases reassessed after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found flaws in the local council’s scheme. The Ombudsman investigated a woman’s complaint that London Borough of Hackney had not renewed her badge ...

Ombudsman responds to NAO report on sustainability of local government finances The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has welcomed the report by the National Audit Office (NAO), highlighting the precarious nature of local government finances due to increased demand for frontline services. The report highlights the increasing number of complaints the Ombudsman receives and upholds, as evi ...

“Just who is left to fight their corner?” – Ombudsman launches report on fostering for councils When ‘Amie’ left care, her local council did not look into her claim that she suffered abuse while living with foster carers properly. This is just one of the cases highlighted in today’s Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report about fostering in England which demonstrates what can and has go ...

Ombudsman reminds councils to review SEN needs before Key Stage transfers Councils need to review children’s special educational needs in the run-up to Key Stage transfers, even if they are staying at the same school, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said. The reminder comes after the Ombudsman investigated a complaint from a Warwickshire parent that the county council had not c ...

Ombudsman investigation uncovers significant delays in Yorkshire council’s EHC Plan process Leeds City Council has been criticised for significant delays in making decisions about support for children with special educational needs. An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found delays by the Council in nearly eight out of 10 Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans even a ...

New report highlights urgent need to listen to disabled people in the fight against England’s housing crisis England’s housing crisis is deepening, and for Disabled people, its impact is particularly acute. A new report, released today by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, sheds light on the disproportionate challenges Disabled people face when navigating local authorities’ housing a ...

Wirral teen missed out on post-16 education because of council faults Wirral MBC has been asked to pay a teenager more than £4,000 after it failed to put in place proper educational provision for him. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman was asked to investigate by the teenager’s mother after the council took too long to review her son’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This left ...

Trafford Council agrees to review way it monitors missed bin collections following Ombudsman investigation Trafford Council will now change the way it investigates missed bin collections after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman upheld a number of complaints about the authority. Problems raised with the Ombudsman include assisted bin collections for elderly or disabled people not being ...

Hampshire council did not arrange transport for boy with special needs in time Hampshire County Council expected a young child with special educational needs to travel on their own in a taxi to school – or face a three-hour round-trip in shared transport. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated after a father complained his child, who was due to start Reception at his special ...

Enforcement agents (bailiffs) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with a bailiff employed by a council or other enforcing authority and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Enforcement agents are what were more commonly known as bailiffs. I have a complaint against an enforcement agent. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. If your ...