Service improvements

London Borough of Barnet

Showing service improvements between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022

Find out more about service improvements

When we find fault, we can recommend improvements to systems and processes where they haven’t worked properly, so that others do not suffer from these same problems in future. Common examples are policy changes; procedural reviews; and staff training. Service improvements from decisions are published for 5 years and those from reports are published for 10 years.

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 cases with service improvements

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Downloads the current filtered list of service improvement decisions for London Borough of Barnet as a CSV file.

  • London Borough of Barnet (21 012 763)

    Category: Housing Date: 24-Mar-2022

    Summary

    The Council was at fault for the way it dealt with Ms X’s homelessness review. As a result Ms X had to wait longer for decision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment to Ms X.

    Service improvements

    Remind staff to ensure decision letters under section 202 Housing Act 1996 contain a paragraph informing applicants of their right to appeal and clearly state the outcome of the review.

  • London Borough of Barnet (19 000 206)

    Category: Housing Date: 16-Jul-2021

    Summary

    Mr B complains that there was fault and delay in the way the Council responded to his request for housing assistance. The Ombudsman considers that the Council was at fault because it should have taken a homelessness application and provided emergency accommodation sooner. Had it done so, Mr B would not have incurred large rent arrears. The Council has agreed the Ombudsman’s recommendation that it apologise to Mr B, pay him £3,588.67 to cover the shortfall in rent, court fees and interest and a further £500 in recognition of the distress caused to him.

    Service improvements

    The Council should remind officers: that the assessment of a homelessness application should go hand in hand with the assessment, personal housing plan and prevention or relief of homelessness; of the need to make timely decisions in respect of the prevention duty and issuing of personal housing plans; to take homelessness applications where appropriate; to consider whether there is a duty to provide interim accommodation; to put in place measures to ensure that medical evidence is properly recorded and passed on; and to review its practices and procedures in light of the Ombudsman’s findings.

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