Case Ref: 23 021 148 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Provide a copy of the EOTAS policy to evidence it is acting following the fault identified in this case.

Case Ref: 23 017 818 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council has agreed to provide the Ombudsman with evidence it has reminded education staff that the Council should consider its section19 duty to pupils from the fifteenth day of absence from school and clearly record its decision making at that time.

Case Ref: 23 015 273 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• By training or other means remind relevant staff of the importance of adhering to the Council’s complaint policy times.

Case Ref: 23 007 943 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Transport

• The Council has agreed that it will review its Blue Badge Scheme policy to ensure it complies with national guidance.

Case Ref: 23 004 844 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to review how it commissions its speech and language therapy to ensure it can secure this type of therapy when it is a requirement of young people's Education Health and Care Plans.
• The Council has agreed to remind its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities staff that the Council's duty to secure the provision in Section F of Education Health and Care Plans is non-delegable.

Case Ref: 23 004 629 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• The Council has agreed to work with Valley Wood care home to identify the action it needs to take to ensure:a) it does not overlook the need to prompt people to take fortified drinks and documents this properly;b) its staff have access to people’s care plans and follow them when delivering care; andc) care records are not misplaced after someone has left the care home.

Case Ref: 23 001 080 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will send written reminders to relevant staff of its responsibilities under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 when it is made aware a child is attending school part-time, or needs a special school placement. This should cover what the Council should consider when assessing the suitability of education and how it will provide, or work towards, a full-time education in such circumstances.

Case Ref: 22 015 298 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to circulate guidance to its panel of IRP clerks, to ensure they are aware the statutory guidance says that, where they have requested the attendance of a SEN expert at a review meeting, but the expert is not present, parents may ask for the meeting to be adjourned until the expert is available; and that the IRP must explain this right to parents.

Case Ref: 22 013 386 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to remind staff of the complaint process and procedures.

Case Ref: 21 013 182 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Reviews its guidance to staff on when its Section 19 duty is triggered to ensure the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s focus report above are reflected in this. The Council should consider including guidance on our recommendation that councils should choose, based on all the evidence, whether to enforce attendance or provide the child with suitable alternative education.
• Ensure there is a clear audit trail to evidence decisions taken on non-attendance and alternative provision.
• Shares this decision with relevant staff members.