Somerset County Council (21 006 275)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-Apr-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide alternative education for her children and delayed assessing their special educational needs. There was fault in how the Council reviewed its decision following a mediation agreement and how it failed to consider its duty to arrange suitable alternative education. It agreed to apologise to Mrs X and her children, pay them a financial remedy and review its policy and practice.

Somerset County Council (21 004 521)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Apr-2022

Summary: Mrs C complained the Council delayed in providing her son with an Education, Health and Social Care Plan naming a suitable school. Also, that it failed to provide him with suitable education while she appealed the content of that plan. We uphold a complaint the Council took too long to finalise the plan. This delay caused both Mrs C and her son injustice. The Council accepts this finding and at the end of this statement we set out the action it agreed to remedy that injustice. The statement also explains why we are unable to investigate or uphold other parts of Mrs C’s complaint.

Somerset County Council (21 007 871)

Statement Upheld Highway repair and maintenance 05-May-2022

Summary: Mr C complains the Council failed to properly maintain a drainage system causing his pond to silt up. We have found fault by the Council in its complaint handling and in the time taken to confirm it was responsible for the drainage system. We consider the agreed action of an apology, £300 and actions the Council has already agreed about maintenance of the drainage system provide a suitable remedy.

Somerset County Council (21 012 954)

Statement Upheld Residential care 09-May-2022

Summary: A Care Provider, acting on behalf of the Council, acknowledged failings in the management of Mr Y’s care before the involvement of this office, but it failed to offer an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused. There is no evidence to show the Council took appropriate action in response to the events or what action it took to ensure safe effective care provision for other residents similarly affected and for those whom it continues to commission placements.

Somerset County Council (21 004 281)

Statement Upheld Other 29-May-2022

Summary: Mr C complained to us about the way a care provider, commissioned by the Council, supported his son in supported living. We have found fault with some issues Mr C complained about, for which the Council has agreed to apologise and pay a financial remedy to him and his son.

Somerset County Council (21 010 656)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Jun-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s actions in relation to her son’s Educational Health Care Plan. This included delay, failure to provide the support outlined in the Plan, and failure to make alternative provision when her son could not attend school for medical reasons. There is fault with the Council for the delays in issuing Y’s Plan. This delayed Mrs X’s appeal rights causing distress and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay Mrs X to remedy the injustice caused by the fault.

Somerset County Council (21 013 709)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Jul-2022

Summary: Miss X complains the Council have not dealt properly with education provision for her son Y. The Council is at fault because it didn’t ensure SEN (Special Educational Needs) provision was made, an annual review was not held properly and it issued an amended EHCP too late. Y missed SEN provision and Miss X’s appeal right was delayed for over three months. The Council has agreed to pay Miss X £2,000 and provide guidance to staff.

Somerset County Council (21 016 160)

Statement Upheld Residential care 04-Sep-2022

Summary: Mrs F complains about the council commissioned care her late father received at Camelot House and Lodge nursing home. Mrs F says poor care at the end of her father’s life caused him pain and discomfort and the family significant distress. The Council has accepted there was fault which caused injustice to Mrs F. It has agreed to make a payment to acknowledge this and make service improvements.

Somerset County Council (21 015 427)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 20-Sep-2022

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to make alternative education provision for her son when he could not attend school. The Council is at fault as it did not make alternative provision for Y when he was unable to attend school. As a result, Y did not receive suitable provision and support between April 2021 and February 2022. The Council also delayed in issuing Y’s Education, Health and Care plan and in agreeing a personal budget. The Council has agreed to remedy Y’s injustice by making a payment to acknowledge he has been disadvantaged by the lack of alternative provision and a payment to Mrs X for the distress caused.

Somerset County Council (21 017 097)

Statement Upheld Disabled facilities grants 02-Oct-2022

Summary: Miss X complains about how the Council has dealt with her occupational therapy assessment. The Council is at fault as it delayed in carrying out an occupational therapy assessment, delayed in pursuing the recommendations of the assessment and delayed in responding to Miss X’s complaint. The delays caused distress, frustration and avoidable time and trouble to Miss X which the Council has agreed to remedy by apologising and making a payment of £1000 to her and taking further action.