Case Ref: 23 005 741 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council has agreed to review its alternative provision process and provide the Ombudsman with evidence that it complies with Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

Case Ref: 23 004 886 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Through training or other means, ensure the relevant officers are aware that all issues raised in a complaint are appropriately addressed.
• Remind relevant officers of the importance of providing clear communication and responding in a timely manner.
• Provide details of the steps the Council has already taken to reduce its stage two backlog.

Case Ref: 23 004 792 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Charging

• The Council has agreed to provide guidance/training to relevant staff on ensuring support plans clearly set out how the personal budget will meet an individual’s needs.

Case Ref: 23 004 405 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council will remind complaint handling staff of the importance of considering discretion if they conclude a complaint is outside time limits.

Case Ref: 23 002 908 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind relevant staff that it is the Council’s duty to ensure the specified special educational provision in an Education, Health and Care Plan is being provided. And they should investigate where information is provided that leads to a question about whether the provision was in place.
• The Council will remind relevant staff of the Council’s duties to advise parents of the outcomes of Education, Health and Care Plan annual reviews.

Case Ref: 23 002 393 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• Review what support it provides people who are supported by adult social care to find alternative care placements or housing to ensure they are sufficiently supported in finding placements.
• By training or other means, ensure social workers and other relevant staff are aware of the Council’s duty under section 47 of the Care Act 2014 to take reasonable action to protect property.

Case Ref: 23 002 329 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council agreed to review how it appoints and trains its stage 3 panel chairpersons and panel members as part of the children's statutory complaints procedure. It should ensure that all stage 3 chairpersons have sufficient knowledge and experience to conduct stage 3 panels in line with the statutory guidance. It should also ensure it has appropriate quality monitoring processes in place to ensure stage 3 panels are held in line with the statutory guidance going forward.

Case Ref: 23 000 130 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will provide evidence of the staff training sessions and Education Other Than at School [EOTAS] process documents made available for officers. As part of ongoing training and development, the Council should remind officers of the requirement to give a right of review against any decisions to refuse a personal budget as per Section 7 of the SEN (Personal Budget) Regulations.
• The Council will improve the way it makes decisions about requests for alternative provision. This could be in the form of staff training or a briefing paper. As part of this, the Council will draw officers’ attention to the Section 19 duties, accompanying statutory guidance and the LGSCO’s focus report ‘Out of School, Out of Sight?’

Case Ref: 23 000 078 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• By training or other means, remind staff of the provisions of section 9 of the Care Act 2014 requiring the Council to carry out a Care Act assessment for a person who has the appearance of care and support needs.
• Draw up an action plan to reduce the excessive waiting times for occupational therapy assessments.

Case Ref: 22 016 892 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• The Council should remind all assessment/review staff of its Review and Re-assessment Practice Guidance.