Case Ref: 24 007 154 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council will explain to staff in its education service that if a complaintincludes elements which come under the children’s statutory complaintsprocedure, the Council must use the procedure to address those elements andshould consider whether to include the non-statutory elements in the statutorycomplaint investigation.
• The Council will review the systems it has in place to ensure it follows up on provision it is arranging for children out of education, to minimise delay and ensure referrals are acted upon.

Case Ref: 24 002 749 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• The Council has agreed to provide the Ombudsman with an action plan setting out how it plans to address the long wait times for care assessments.

Case Ref: 24 002 468 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council will send written reminders to relevant staff of the Council’s responsibilities under Section 19 of the Education Act. With these reminders, it should share a copy of our “Out of school, out of sight? focus report, highlighting key points to ensure officers are aware of the factors they should consider when it is aware a child is not attending school.

Case Ref: 24 002 001 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• The Council was at fault because its case officer report contained a factual error and it failed to refer a planning application to English Heritage for comments. The Council has agreed to review its working practices and procedures to ensure they are fit for purpose. If it makes changes to its practices and procedures, it will ensure relevant staff are aware of them.

Case Ref: 23 020 803 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• The Council will share the key learning points from this investigation with its Housing and Adult Social Care teams.
• The Council will send us an action plan setting out the steps it will take to ensure: 1.discussions and planning between its Housing and Adult Social Care teams are ongoing, and action is taken to address concerns about the suitability of accommodation in circumstances where the placement is contingent on Council arranged care and support; and2.plans are in place to address circumstances where an interim accommodation in or out of its area is unsuitable for applicants unless care support is put in place.

Case Ref: 23 018 778 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council will remind enforcement officers they should provide brief updates to complainants about key progress and decisions on enforcement investigations in accordance with the Council’s policy.

Case Ref: 23 018 055 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council agreed to create an action plan to reduce the delays in enforcement investigations.

Case Ref: 23 016 753 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council will share the key learning points from this investigation with its Housing and Adult Social Care teams.
• The Council will send us an action plan setting out the steps it will take to ensure: 1.discussions and planning between its Housing and Adult Social Care teams are ongoing, and action is taken to address concerns about the suitability of accommodation in circumstances where the placement is contingent on Council arranged care and support; and2.plans are in place to address circumstances where an interim accommodation in or out of its area is unsuitable for applicants unless care support is put in place.

Case Ref: 23 012 340 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Other

• remind officers about need to communicate decision outcome to clients.

Case Ref: 23 012 104 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council has agreed to:• review its procurement policy to reduce the use of B&B and increase the supply of other types of temporary accommodation;•ensure a proper check of temporary accommodation is carried out before it is offered to ensure it is suitable;•actively monitor all cases where families are in B&B accommodation to find alternative accommodation before the six-week limit is reached; •ensure it correctly informs families in B&B accommodation of the statutory time limit and their review/appeal rights; and•provides guidance or training to complaints staff on the use of B&B accommodation to ensure staff can correctly identify fault.