Sheffield City Council (20 013 929)

Statement Upheld Council tax 29-Apr-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council error involving the complainant’s council tax. This is because the Council has offered a fair and proportionate remedy.

Sheffield City Council (20 007 508)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 07-Jun-2021

Summary: Based on the evidence we have seen, we have not found fault in the way the Council assessed Ms C and Mr D’s finances and its decision to charge them a contribution towards the cost of their care. There was fault in the Council’s delay in deciding whether Ms C and Mr D could use their direct payment to pay family members to provide care. The Council has agreed to apologise, provide its decision and pay a financial remedy.

Sheffield City Council (20 003 507)

Statement Upheld Residential care 29-Jun-2021

Summary: Mr X complains Haythorne Place care home, where the Council placed his mother, Mrs Y, failed to look after her properly during the first COVID-19 lockdown before her death in May 2020. Haythorne Place’s records of the care provided for Mrs Y are inadequate, which leaves doubt over whether it was meeting all her needs properly. The Council should apologise to Mr X and Mr Y for the unnecessary distress this has caused them.

Sheffield City Council (20 009 292)

Statement Upheld Charging 01-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council decided when his late father, Mr F’s, capital dropped below the capital limit threshold and that it failed to reimburse Mr F’s estate for overpaid care fees. The Council was at fault. It gave Mr X conflicting and confusing information about how it calculated the date Mr F’s capital dropped below the threshold due to errors in its spreadsheet tool. It then delayed arranging reimbursement of overpaid care fees by six months. The Council agreed to provide evidence it has reimbursed Mr F’s estate and pay Mr X £150 to recognise the frustration and time and trouble caused by the delay.

Sheffield City Council (20 000 997)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 16-Aug-2021

Summary: Mr G says a care company providing care on behalf of the Council, Direct Health Ltd, neglected his grandmother, Mrs C, for 14 months. He says the Council failed to notice the neglect, failed to investigate his safeguarding concerns then tried to cover up its own and the care company’s failures. He says this caused Mrs C and him injustice in that Mrs C suffered health problems because of the poor care and their relationship was affected. He also complains about an inadequate complaint response. The Council was at fault for the poor care provided by the care company, for failing to investigate a safeguarding concern and for a failure to deal promptly with Mr G’s complaint. However, the Council has already refunded some fees and apologised so no further remedy is required.

Sheffield City Council (20 009 725)

Statement Upheld Transport 25-Aug-2021

Summary: Miss B complained that the Council had failed to properly consider her health conditions and the impact on her ability to walk, when refusing her application for a blue badge. We found fault in the way the Council considered her application. The Council has agreed to invite a new application and reconsider the information Miss B provides using an assessor with knowledge of her condition.

Sheffield City Council (20 014 150)

Statement Upheld Allocations 27-Sep-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to give his family appropriate housing priority following noise and anti-social behaviour issues. There was some delay and fault in the decision taken in 2021. The Council agreed to grant additional priority to Mr X to enable him to receive a further offer of accommodation.

Sheffield City Council (21 000 646)

Statement Upheld Charging 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains on behalf of her mother, Mrs Y, about the Council’s decision that she deprived herself of assets to avoid paying towards her care costs. Mrs X says the Council did not fully consider all relevant factors and says the Council’s actions have caused her avoidable distress. We found fault in this matter and the Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and carry out a further review of its financial assessment.

Sheffield City Council (21 004 877)

Statement Upheld Other 10-Dec-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council wrongly decided that a car on her private property was abandoned and removed it. The Council returned the car, and paid Mrs X’s costs. However, Mrs X says she felt she had to dispose of it as she was concerned the Council might take it away again. She says this caused her an injustice as the car had sentimental value and she found the Council’s actions distressing. The Council was at fault and an apology is not sufficient remedy. We have recommended the Council also pay Mrs X a sum to acknowledge her distress.

Sheffield City Council (21 001 107)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 04-Jan-2022

Summary: Ms C complained about the way the Council responded when she asked the Council to carry out a needs assessment for her father. She said this caused her distress. We found there was fault with the way the Council eventually carried out the needs assessment. The Council has agreed to apologise for this to Ms C and review the way it plans and carries out (refresher) training for its staff on carrying out such assessments.