Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 011 290)

Statement Upheld Fostering 22-May-2024

Summary: Miss Y complains she was not able to progress through the Council’s fostering payment scheme due to Council fault. After considering the available evidence, we agree with the findings made during the statutory complaints investigation. We do not find further fault and so, in our view, the remedy already provided is proportionate.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (24 000 822)

Statement Upheld Charging 04-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled his late mother’s financial contributions towards her care costs. We would not achieve anything further by investigating.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 011 950)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Jun-2024

Summary: Miss X complained about delays and poor communication from the Council when repairing and replacing equipment it provided to meet her care and support needs. There was fault in how the Council’s community equipment service took too long to replace and repair community equipment it had provided to Miss X. It also failed to properly communicate with Miss X or to take a proactive approach when the delays became prolonged. The Council agreed to pay Miss X the financial remedy is had already offered and apologise further for the extra injustice we have found. It also agreed to review its equipment service’s and supplier’s procedures.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 970)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 16-Jun-2024

Summary: Ms X complained the Council did not carry out a proper financial assessment or consider disability-related expenses for her daughter, D. The Council is at fault for delay in reviewing the financial assessment, conducting a joint assessment and responding to correspondence. It has also failed to consider housing expenses in the financial assessment. This has caused distress to Ms D and Ms X.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 009 682)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 23-Jun-2024

Summary: Mrs X says the Council has failed to collect and return her bins in line with the agreement it made for assisted collections. Mrs X also says the Council have threatened to remove her assisted collection. Mrs X explains this has caused her distress. We have found fault with the Council for missing collections and with its complaint handling. However, the Council has already apologised which is a reasonable remedy.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 017 600)

Statement Upheld Planning applications 20-Oct-2024

Summary: Mr X said the Council did not properly consider the impact of development on his home before granting planning permission. We found no fault in how the Council reached its planning decision. However, there was avoidable delay in the Council’s response to Mr X’s noise reports and its complaints handling. In addition to the apologies already given, the Council agreed to make a symbolic payment of £400 to Mr X in recognition of the frustration and avoidable time and trouble he was caused by its delays.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 020 508)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Dec-2024

Summary: The Council identified failings in some areas of care provided to Ms X. It also acknowledged a delay in dealing with Ms X’s complaint about this, but it failed to offer an adequate remedy for the injustice caused.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (24 014 447)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 05-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult social care services. The Council failed to invite the complainant to a best interests meeting; it has apologised and confirmed the actions it will take to improve future service. It is unlikely the Ombudsman could add to this investigation or reach a different outcome. The Court of Protection is better placed to consider a challenge to what is in the best interests of the person using the Council’s service (the complainant’s relative).