Case Ref: 22 012 781 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to brief relevant staff on the correct approach that it should take when a young person or their parent requested that it seek professional advice (such as from a speech and language therapist or occupational therapist) as part of an education, health and care needs assessment. It agreed to remind staff of the need to decide such requests promptly, to make a clear decision on whether to seek such advice and give reasons if deciding not to. Also, to ensure that if it sought advice that it was then under a duty to make sure it was received.

Case Ref: 22 012 513 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• Remind staff of the importance of adhering to the timeframes specified in the children’s statutory complaint process

Case Ref: 22 009 538 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Charging

• The Council will review its policy on contributions to care and support charges, giving consideration to how it will ensure non-dependents can contribute to household costs.
• The Council will review its communication around charging in this case and ensure staff are clear in future about how it allows for non-dependent’s household contributions.
• The Council will ensure staff clearly record the reasons for any charging decisions.

Case Ref: 22 003 256 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council will send written reminders to all staff within the Elective Home Education and Children Missing Education teams to ensure they remind themselves of the Department for Education’s Elective Home Education: guidance for local authorities. Section 6 in particular states what councils should do when it is not clear that home education is suitable.
• The Council will ensure reminders to staff should highlight the need for officers to consider if it is expedient for a child to attend school and consider their individual circumstances in relation to Elective Home Education. This learning should also be kept in mind when communicating the process to individual parents.

Case Ref: 22 000 723 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Charging

• The Council will share this decision with relevant staff.

Case Ref: 21 018 292 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will review its complaint handling responses against itsown written policy timeframes and determine what steps are required to ensurecompliance with this going forward.
• The Council will also review its compliance with issuing EHCP’s in accordance with the Regulations and adopt measures to prevent delays occurring.

Case Ref: 21 014 125 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• Provide evidence the Home has sent a reminder to its nursing and care staff of the need to ensure clear records, where a fluid intake chart is in use. The chart should record all occasions staff offered or encouraged fluids, and when this was refused. If the chart shows the person has not reached their target intake for the day, this should be recorded along with any reasons. Any interventions or medical advice should be recorded in the hydration care plan.

Case Ref: 21 012 744 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council, Trust and ICB will review their Section 117 policies and procedures to ensure these are compliant with the Mental Health Act 1983 and the accompanying Code of Practice. Specifically, this review should ensure the revised policies and procedures provide clear guidance for staff on where the statutory duty for arranging and providing Section 117 aftercare lies. The Council, Trust and ICB should consult with each other as part of this review ro ensure their revised policies are clear and consistent.The Council, Trust and ICB will write to the Ombudsmen with the outcome of this review and provide copies of the revised policies and procedures.

Case Ref: 21 012 375 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• The Council will check the Care Home has a process in place to ensure it acts quickly and appropriately when a resident refuses support including, considering an increase in provision or giving notice, notifying the Care Quality Commission and raising a safeguarding alert.
• The Council will provide training or issue guidance to Care Home staff to ensure they escalate concerns about residents' health appropriately.