Case Ref: 21 010 279 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council has agreed to review its procedures to ensure it considers an ATS referral as soon asa child is reported absent from school for 15 days and seeks a professionalopinion on the amount and type of alternative education a child can cope withwhile out of school, to best meet their needs.

Case Ref: 21 008 252 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed that it will:issue guidance to relevant staff that, where possible, the Council should consult with several schools at the same time to reduce delays in finding suitable alternative placements for pupils;issue a reminder to relevant staff that annual reviews must be held within 12 months of the date when the first EHCP is issued and then within 12 months of any previous review; andremind relevant staff of the need to put in place alternative provision when a child is out of education and an alternative placement cannot be identified immediately.
• The Council has also agreed to make changes to its record-keeping to ensure that minutes are taken of panel meetings and that these are retained.

Case Ref: 21 008 105 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council will issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware of the timescales to finalise an EHC plan after an annual review
• The Council will issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware of the Council’s duties under section 19 of theEducation Act 1996 to provide provision orsuitable education for children of compulsory age who cannot attend schoolbecause of exclusion, medical reasons or otherwise.

Case Ref: 21 008 028 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Adoption

• The Council will remind its officers that adoption-related concerns may be the subject of a complaint under the children's statutory complaints procedure.

Case Ref: 21 007 224 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Safeguarding

• The Council has agreed to ensure that, in future, the person raising concerns is updated, as appropriate, on progress with safeguarding enquiries
• The Council has agreed to ensure the Care Provider is clear how to deal with safeguarding situations in future
• The Council has agreed to review the information provided to care providers generally about dealing with safeguarding to ensure other care providers are not likely to make a similar error

Case Ref: 21 007 106 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to review the terms of reference for its Complex Needs Panel. This will clarify what information can be shared with parents and carers, and promote transparency in the Council's decision-making.

Case Ref: 21 006 888 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to: •by training or other means remind staff of the importance of meeting the Council’s complaint procedure timescales

Case Ref: 21 002 128 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Direct payments

• Provide training to its staff about the importance of record keeping

Case Ref: 20 011 531 Category: Education Sub Category: COVID-19

• The Council will provide the Ombudsman with an update on its progress with the action plan it developed following the independent review of its SEND service in 2021.
• The Council will remind officers investigating complaints about the Ombudsman’s ‘Guidance on Effective Complaint Handling in Local Authorities’ which gives advice on what to include in decision letters.

Case Ref: 20 010 859 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Child protection

• The Council has agreed to: by training or other means remind staff of the importance of meeting the Council’s complaint procedure timescales.