Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 005 486)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Apr-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to secure the provision set out in her son, Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan, and failed to make alternative provision available for him once he was excluded from school. We find the Council at fault for failing to secure Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan provision, for failing to consider alternative provision for him, and for failing to keep complete contact notes. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused by the fault, review Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan and act to prevent recurrence.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 007 399)

Statement Upheld Allocations 09-Apr-2024

Summary: Mr C complained about the Council’s response to his homeless application and the suitability of the accommodation provided. Mr C said he has been living in unsuitable conditions for longer than necessary which affected his well-being and resulted in avoidable upset and costs. We have found fault by the Council but consider the agreed action of an apology and symbolic payment with service improvements already made by the Council provides a suitable remedy.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 015 327)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-Jun-2024

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not dealt properly with her son Y’s Special Educational Needs (SEN). The Council is at fault because it did not hold an annual review properly. Y lost education provision and Mrs X was denied the ability to appeal to Tribunal. The Council should apologise, Pay Mrs X £6000 for lost education provision, £400 for her time and trouble and avoidable distress, make a decision about incurred costs, provide an action plan and staff training.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 019)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 18-Aug-2024

Summary: The Council’s failure to decide whether it owed Mr X a homelessness duty in 2022 was fault. It failed to recognise that he was homeless because of domestic abuse and failed to provide interim accommodation. The Council has agreed to apologise, backdate Mr X’s housing application, make a payment and act to improve its services.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 012 486)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Sep-2024

Summary: Miss X complained about delays in the EHC Plan process and in issuing a final EHC plan which meant her son was unable to start school in September 2023. Miss X also complained her son is still not receiving an education or the provision specified in his EHC Plan. We find the delay in completing the EHC Needs Assessment and issuing a final Plan is fault. As was the failure to provide a full-time education. This fault has caused Miss X and her son an injustice.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 021 078)

Statement Upheld Charging 15-Sep-2024

Summary: Mrs Z, on behalf of her father Mr X, complained the Council allowed a debt to accrue for adult social care services. The Council accepts fault in its failure to communicate with Mr X about the unpaid domiciliary care charges and allowing them to accrue to over £9,000. The Council has already taken action to provide a suitable remedy for this complaint.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 013 127)

Report Upheld School transport 16-Sep-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s refusal to provide school transport for his son (B) when the school named in his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) is the only school offered by the Council and is more than three miles from his home. Mr X also complained about the failure to properly consider his school transport appeal.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (24 009 418)

Statement Upheld Charging 11-Dec-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’ complaint about the Council’s incorrect advice about the cost of her mother, Mrs Y’s care. The Council has apologised, offered £500 to remedy the injustice caused and taken steps to prevent recurrence of the fault. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 009 390)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-Dec-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide her child with an education, delayed issuing and reviewing an education, health and care plan, and handled her complaint poorly. Miss X said this meant her child’s needs were not met, they lost out on education, and it caused distress, frustration, and upset. We find the Council at fault, and this caused injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Miss X, make an additional monthly payment for each month of delay reviewing the plan, and improve its service.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 578)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 30-Jan-2025

Summary: Mr X complained his bins are not properly returned, despite numerous complaints and Council promises. He said this has a disproportionate impact on him because he has disabilities and struggles to put his bins back himself. We find the Council at fault, and this caused injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X, and carry out further monitoring.