Case Ref: 23 005 224 Category: Education Sub Category: School admissions

• The Council will remind panel members considering summer born admissions requests that they must consider the best interests of the individual child in accordance with the code and the guidance. And that they should clearly set out the individual best interests decision in their decision letters.

Case Ref: 22 017 992 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Remind staff of the importance of meeting statutory timescales in respect of EHC plans and confirm that procedures are in place to ensure timescales are met in all cases.

Case Ref: 22 016 700 Category: Transport and highways Sub Category: Parking and other penalties

• The [County] Council has agreed to review its policy for the introduction of residents’ parking schemes which are to be administered by the district council.

Case Ref: 22 013 830 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• Within three months of my final decision, the Council, Hospital Trust and Community Trust will:- explain what action they will take to ensure appropriate information is provided patients, carers and families about available care options as part of the discharge planning process; and- explain what action they will take to ensure relevant care staff are aware of these care options and eligibility criteria for accessing them.
• Within three months of my final decision, the Council, Hospital Trust and Community Trust will: - review their complaints procedures to ensure there is a clear process in place for handling joint complaints in accordance with the complaints regulations.

Case Ref: 22 012 217 Category: Transport and highways Sub Category: Traffic management

• Produce guidance and training to staff about the need to consider liaising and consulting with relevant stakeholders and representative bodies as part of the development of any Traffic Regulation Order.
• Produce guidance and training to staff to staff about the need to consider equality and accessibility issues, including consideration of an assessment, as part of any Traffic Regulation Order.
• Provide training to staff about the importance of record keep about its decisions. This is of particular note when the Council has a duty to make, or consider making, a decision put in place by legislation or Statutory Guidance.

Case Ref: 22 010 053 Category: Education Sub Category: School transport

• The Council has agreed to:•by training or other means remind staff of the importance of providing residents with clear and robust information in a timely manner
• •provide the Ombudsman with a copy of and an update on the Council’s 3-year transformation programme it mentioned in its response to our enquiries which is to address its communication processes and practice failings.
• •review the communication strategies and practices of transfer of information between its various departments. For instance, between customer contact centre and transport service team. This is to ensure school transport applications are dealt with effectively and in a timely manner
• •review the Council’s school and college transport policy and procedures to clearly set out transport payment processes, payment deadlines and transport support refund request criteria. This should include post-16 transport payment process
• •after the completion of the reviews above, by training or other means educate staff about the reviewed communication strategies and practices, the reviewed school transport policy in relation to the payment processes and refund request criteria•explain what steps the Council will take to monitor performance against timescales.

Case Ref: 22 008 082 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff of the duty to ensure the provision in an Education Health and Care Plan is in place within five weeks of a Tribunal’s order.
• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff that the Council should communicate any delays securing provision in an Education Health and Care Plan to the parent or young person.
• The Council has agreed to remind relevant staff responsible for complaints that the Council should acknowledge and respond to complaints correspondence promptly.

Case Ref: 21 015 619 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to review and put in place procedures for ensuring it carries out SEND tribunal orders, and the provisions of EHCP’s are put in place within 5 weeks of an Order.

Case Ref: 21 014 959 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• Review procedures and ensure staff completing financial assessment are aware of Annex B of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance and ensure they apply the guidance correctly.

Case Ref: 21 013 224 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Safeguarding

• The Council will remind its staff about established good practice and the need to work jointly with other organisations to complete holistic assessments when necessary to ensure the wellbeing and health and social care needs of individuals are considered.