Torbay Council (23 017 508)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 20-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s actions in 2008. It lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Suffolk County Council (23 006 238)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 20-Mar-2024

Summary: Mrs X said the Council failed to properly assess and fund short breaks for her and her child, Child Y. The Council was at fault for initially not explaining to Mrs X her short break payment award level, it will apologise to her, for the uncertainty caused. The Council has since written to Mrs X to explain its reasons and has also put in place appropriate changes to its process.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (23 005 100)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 15-Mar-2024

Summary: Mrs B says the Council wrongly refused to award direct payments for her eldest son for respite and delayed reaching the decision. There was delay reaching the decision and although the Council’s panel awarded direct payments for Mrs B’s eldest son it told her it had not. An apology, payment to Mrs B, putting in place the additional respite for Mrs B’s eldest son and procedural changes are satisfactory remedy.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 016 846)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 12-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing an appeal for a blue badge. This is because we are unlikely to find fault by the Council which carried out a mobility assessment in accordance with government guidance. It is not our role to question the merits of a properly made decision.

Devon County Council (23 016 696)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award a blue badge for Miss X’s child. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision to warrant investigation.

Oxfordshire County Council (23 016 682)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 29-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the services provided to the complainant’s family and the handling of his subsequent complaint. This is because it is unlikely investigation would lead to a substantially different outcome.

Lancashire County Council (23 015 202)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 20-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services’ actions. The Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure.

North Somerset Council (23 008 084)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 20-Feb-2024

Summary: There was fault in how the Council handled significant changes to Mrs C’s care package. It had not reviewed this regularly, and did not seek to agree the changes with Mr and Mrs C, nor give Mr C proper notice when he was employed to deliver care to his wife. The Council also took too long to review its assessment of their son’s care needs. The Council’s shortcomings caused Mr and Mrs C distress and uncertainty and it has agreed to remedy this.

London Borough of Hackney (23 009 035)

Statement Not upheld Disabled children 20-Feb-2024

Summary: Mrs B says the Council failed to properly consider her application for a blue badge. During our investigation the Council reviewed the decision and awarded Mrs B a blue badge. There is no need for the Ombudsman to pursue the matter further.

Lancashire County Council (23 010 509)

Statement Upheld Disabled children 15-Feb-2024

Summary: Mrs B complained about the actions of the Council in dealing with her request for an assessment and services for her daughter from the children with disabilities service and the way in which it dealt with her complaint about those matters. We have found fault with the Council. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs B, pay her £500, complete a new assessment and improve its procedures for the future.