Suffolk County Council (19 014 422)

Statement Upheld Highway repair and maintenance 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs B complains that the Council delayed in carrying out works to the noisy drain next to her home. The Ombudsman has not found fault in the way the Council investigated Mrs B’s request for repairs but decided against this. The Ombudsman considers the apology already made a suitable response to the injustice caused by delays in responding to Mrs B’s enquiries.

Suffolk County Council (19 014 014)

Statement Upheld Residential care 16-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X’s representative complained the Council delayed finding him an alternative placement after his supported living placement broke down. The Council was not at fault. It arranged an interim placement to meet Mr X’s care needs. It was at fault when it failed to clearly explain the time limits at the placement. However, this did not cause a significant injustice as Mr X’s representative was aware it was a short-term placement. There were some shortfalls in the care provided at the placement. The care home has already taken action to address these. There were also invoicing errors by the Council and delays in referring a safeguarding concern. The Council has already apologised for these errors. That is an appropriate remedy

Suffolk County Council (19 021 118)

Statement Upheld Charging 01-Dec-2020

Summary: Mrs B complains on behalf of her daughter, Ms C, that the Council delayed in: reviewing her support plan; telling her the outcome of a financial assessment; and explaining why she had to contribute towards the cost of her services when she had not done so before. She also says there was fault in the way the Council dealt with Ms C’s disability-related expenditure (DRE). We find the Council delayed in completing a review of Ms C’s support plan and a financial re-assessment and in informing Mrs B of the outcome and explaining why Ms C had to pay a contribution. But this did not cause Ms C a significant injustice. There was no fault in the way the Council dealt with Ms C’s DRE.

Suffolk County Council (18 012 545)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 08-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr R, complains the Council did not carry out an assessment of his care needs before his discharge from hospital. The Ombudsman upholds the complaint. Our view is the Council has made a suitable offer of a remedy.

Suffolk County Council (20 010 207)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr C’s complaint about the Council’s failure to formally respond to his request for a reassessment of his daughter’s Education Health and Care needs. This is because the Council has now complied with Mr C’s request, and therefore any further investigation would not achieve a different outcome.