Bracknell Forest Council (22 007 716)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Apr-2023

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to sufficiently safeguard his adult son, Mr Z, from harm caused by his housemate in supported living accommodation. The Council was not at fault for moving the two men into the accommodation initially, nor for the way it dealt with the safeguarding concerns. However the Council failed to consult properly in its best interests decision making regarding Mr Z and his living situation. This has caused uncertainty to Mr X and his son. The Council also failed to respond properly to Mr X’s complaint. This caused Mr X frustration and time and trouble. We have recommended the Council apologise, pay Mr X £150 and carry out a fresh mental capacity and best interests assessment into Mr Z’s living situation.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 007 045)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-May-2023

Summary: Mr X complained the Council has not provided education for his daughter, Y, since she has been unable to attend school from January 2022. He also complained Y has not had the full provision set out in her Education, Health and care plan (EHCP) and the Council has not adhered to statutory timescales about the EHCP and annual review documentation. Mr X also says the communication with the Council throughout this matter has been poor. Mr X says Y has missed education, Occupational therapy and Speech and Language Therapy provision and the family have been put under considerable stress. The Council did not provide education until appeal rights to the tribunal were engaged, did not provide documentation after annual reviews within the statutory timescales and communication was difficult. Mr X and Y suffered distress and Mr X has been put to time and trouble to complain. The Council should apologise to Mr X and Y, make a financial payment on top of the amount identified in its complaint response, ensure provision is in place for Y and update its policies.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 011 144)

Statement Upheld Fostering 04-Jun-2023

Summary: The Council was at fault for how it considered what financial support to provide Mr and Mrs X with. As a result, they cannot be sure they have received all of the financial support they should have to help them care for their grandchildren. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr and Mrs X and consider whether they should receive any further financial payments.

Bracknell Forest Council (23 000 851)

Statement Upheld Child protection 15-Jun-2023

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to follow the Children Act complaints’ procedure. It has now agreed to do so.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 015 918)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Sep-2023

Summary: Mrs X complains about delay by the Council in completing her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan after the annual review, and delay in releasing payment to her for alternative education provision. We find fault with the Council for the delay, and have recommended a symbolic payment for the frustration and distress caused to Mrs X.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 013 387)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 05-Oct-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council not delivering specialist services outlined in her daughter’s Education, Health and Care Plan since June 2021. We found fault because the Council failed to deliver suitable education. Mrs X has suffered avoidable frustration and distress in getting the issues resolved and her daughter missed some of the education she should have received. To remedy the injustice caused by these faults, the Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mrs X and provide guidance to relevant officers.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 013 300)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-Oct-2023

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not properly assess her child during the EHCP process and failed to ensure the provision in the EHCP was delivered. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to suitably consider its duty to alternative provision for Child Y. The Council has agreed to pay a financial remedy for the lost education.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 013 508)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Oct-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide appropriate support and assistance to herself and her sons and failed to follow proper procedure when carrying out assessments and child protection investigations. She also complained about failings in the Council’s communication with her and incomplete and inaccurate record keeping. The Council’s failures in communication and support for Mrs X and her family are fault. As is the failure to follow to child protection procedures and to properly record decisions. These faults have caused Mrs X an injustice.

Bracknell Forest Council (23 004 376)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Nov-2023

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s actions in relation to her child’s, Y, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan). The Council was at fault. It failed to send Ms X a decision letter following the annual review meeting and then delayed issuing the final EHC Plan. This caused Ms X distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council has already apologised to Ms X and offered her a symbolic payment. It has also made service improvements to prevent a recurrence of fault. This was appropriate.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 018 140)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 29-Nov-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to arrange suitable alternative education for her son, Y, when he could no longer attend school. There was fault in how the Council failed to consider Mrs X’s request for alternative education for Y, failed to respond to her complaints and how it wrote to Y’s GP. This caused Y to miss some education, costs for Mrs X and significant distress, time and trouble to Mrs X and Y. The Council agreed to apologise, pay a financial remedy and review how it manages alternative educational provision and special educational needs complaints.