West Sussex County Council (23 004 792)

Category: Adult care services Date: 31-Jan-2024

Summary

Mr X complained the Council failed to ensure his late mother, Mrs Y, had sufficient personal budget to fund her care costs, delayed reassessing her needs and failed to properly consider his request for disability related expenditure in her financial assessment. The Council was at fault for not clearly setting out Mrs Y’s personal budget in her support plan, for significant delay in reviewing her care needs and for failing to properly consider Mr X’s request for disability related expenditure. This caused Mr X frustration and uncertainty and meant Mrs Y and the family had to cover some of the care costs for longer than they should have. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X, backdate the revised personal budget to January 2023, review the disability related expenditure and provide guidance to staff.

Service improvements

West Sussex County Council (23 002 393)

Category: Adult care services Date: 15-Nov-2023

Summary

Mr X complains that the Council placed him in an unsuitable care placement and delayed in finding an alternative placement or housing. Mr X also complains the Council failed to protect his property. We consider the Council is not at fault in placing Mr X at the care placement. But the delay in finding another placement for Mr X is service failure and fault. The Council is also at fault for failing to consider its duty to protect Mr X’s property. The faults have caused distress to Mr X which the Council has agreed to remedy by apologising to him and making a total payment of £1300. The Council will also draw up an action plan to find alternative accommodation for Mr X.

Service improvements

West Sussex County Council (23 000 078)

Category: Adult care services Date: 18-Oct-2023

Summary

Miss X complains that the Council delayed in providing a care package for her. The Council is at fault as it delayed in carrying out a Care Act assessment for Miss X which in turn delayed the provision of a care package. The Council also delayed in carrying out an occupational therapy assessment for Miss X. These faults caused distress to Miss X and meant she had to pay privately for care for longer than necessary. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by making a symbolic payment of £200 to Miss X and reimburse her for the cost of the care she paid privately for.

Service improvements

West Sussex County Council (22 016 892)

Category: Adult care services Date: 20-Aug-2023

Summary

Mrs P complained about the Council’s failure to carry out a proper assessment of her adult daughter’s care needs. She said this resulted in an inadequate support plan that did not meet her needs. We have found there was fault with the assessment. It was poorly written and did not address the issues we would expect. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mrs X to acknowledge her time and trouble dealing with the matter and carry out a new assessment. It has also agreed to take action to improve its service.

Service improvements

West Sussex County Council (22 009 538)

Category: Adult care services Date: 13-Apr-2023

Summary

Mrs X complained about delays by the Council in confirming that it no longer included household expenses in its financial assessments. The Council was at fault for delays and for failing to properly consider household expenses as part of a financial assessment. The Council agreed to provide a suitable remedy.

Service improvements