Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 004 539)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 20-May-2024

Summary: the Council’s failure to follow its procedures when responding to consultation from a neighbouring Council about a proposal to name an ‘integrated resource’ in Mrs M’s son B’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan ended with the Plan specifying provision that was not available. This has caused disruption to B’s education and considerable uncertainty. We recommended a remedy.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 025)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 29-May-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not properly consider whether it had reason to believe he was homeless when he asked it for homeless assistance. As a result, Mr X could have received help to move to alternative accommodation sooner. To remedy the injustice caused the Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and make a payment to acknowledge the distress and uncertainty he experienced.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 004 534)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council have not dealt with her son Y’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) properly. The Council did not complete an annual review properly, delayed responding to Mrs X’s complaint and did not fully complete recommendations arising from its complaint response. Mrs X had her right of appeal delayed, received a late complaint response and did not receive the full remedy agreed in the Council’s complaint response. The Council should apologise, pay Mrs X £400 for distress and uncertainty, provide an action plan and refer this decision to the Cabinet Member responsible.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 377)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Aug-2024

Summary: Mrs H complained the Council failed to ensure her son received all the provision set out in his Education, Health, and Care plan, and it failed to adhere to the statutory timescales following an annual review. We found fault by the Council. It should apologise and make payment to acknowledge the injustice Mrs H and her son experienced.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 017 872)

Statement Upheld Other 15-Sep-2024

Summary: Ms X complained about the way the Council handled her statutory children’s complaint. She said delays had a significant impact on the family and caused distress. We find the Council at fault for delays in complaint handling, which caused injustice. We are satisfied the Council has remedied the injustice caused.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 001 402)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 11-Nov-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to find her son, Y, a place at a special school in the last four to five years. She also says the Council has failed to pursue a place at her preferred school. Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide the intervention therapy specified in her sons Education and Health Care Plan for the past two years. Mrs X says this has caused her and her family distress. We have found fault in the actions of the Council for failing to provide part of the provision set out in Y’s Education and Health Care Plan. The Council has agreed to issue an apology, pay a financial payment to Mrs X, implement the provision noted in Y’s EHC Plan and complete service improvements.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 107)

Statement Upheld Other 09-Dec-2024

Summary: The Council has agreed to consider Mr X’s complaint at stage three and respond to him directly. Mr X can approach the Ombudsman again if he is not happy with the Council’s final response. The Ombudsman has decided to discontinue the investigation into Mr X’s complaint.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 019 997)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 06-Jan-2025

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not dealt with her son’s education and Special Educational Needs (SEN) properly. The Council did not meet statutory timescales, delayed ensuring educational provision was available, provided a late right of appeal and did not handle Mrs X’s complaint properly. Mrs X suffered avoidable distress and time and trouble. The Council should pay Mrs X £1400 for avoidable distress, £100 for time and trouble and provide guidance to staff.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 318)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-Jan-2025

Summary: We are satisfied the Council was not party to a decision to end the complainant’s educational placement at a college. However, there was fault, because the Council drew an incorrect assumption about what she wished to do next. This caused some uncertainty and frustration, for which the Council has agreed to formally apologise. There is no evidence the Council has failed to properly use additional funding it has received to provide more local specialist educational placements.