Case Ref: 21 004 379 Category: Housing Sub Category: Allocations

• The Council has already provided the Ombudsman with a copy of its action plan to reduce housing application processing times. The Council has also agreed to provide a further update on the action it is taking.

Case Ref: 21 003 535 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council has also agreed to review its procedures for agreeing funding for LAC placed outside its area. .

Case Ref: 21 002 185 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council agrees to provide the Ombudsman with an update on the progress of its temporary accommodation shortages plan of action.

Case Ref: 21 002 109 Category: Housing Sub Category: Allocations

• The Council has agreed to review its procedures to ensure: • housing applicants who do not meet the preference criteria are not shortlisted for properties; and •it promptly informs applicants when housing offers are withdrawn.

Case Ref: 21 001 736 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Domiciliary care

• The Council has agreed to consider whether it took appropriate action to deal with the issues arising from Care Provider 1 during the period when its relationship with Mr Y’s family was breaking down.
• The Council has agreed to review how it responded to Mr X’s concerns about Care Provider 1 in this case and consider whether there are changes to be made to prevent similar problems in future. It has also agreed to ensure any learning from these reviews improves future practice.

Case Ref: 21 001 675 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: COVID-19

• The Council will remind staff to provide clear, evidence based decisions, explained in the particular context and circumstances of the case.

Case Ref: 21 001 611 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Remind relevant staff of their duties under the Children Act 1996 to provide alternative provision when a child is out of school. The Council should consider sharing a copy of our focus report ‘Out of school…. Out of mind?’ and our final decision with the reminder. Staff should include, but not be limited to: • SENDIASS. • The Council education legal intervention team. • The resolution team within the education and skills directorate.
• The Council should review its information sharing agreement for SENDIASS representatives attending meetings where a child is not attending school. It should ensure mechanisms are in place so relevant information is shared correctly to ensure the Council meets its statutory duties when a child is not attending school.
• It should also remind relevant staff of the importance of meeting timescales set out in its complaint procedure and updating complainants where there are unavoidable delays.

Case Ref: 21 001 118 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council will provide us with evidence of how it will ensure that in future adequate consideration is given to whether people who have asked to see their files are likely to need or should be offered support or advice as detailed in the relevant Council policy.

Case Ref: 21 000 869 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Council tax

• Publicise on its website that council tax support application forms are only saved for 30 days and deleted if not submitted within this timeframe.
• Review its council tax support scheme to ensure the period for backdated claims is clear.

Case Ref: 21 000 856 Category: Other Categories Sub Category: Commercial and contracts

• By training or other means, remind officers of the requirements of the Council’s complaints procedure to ensure complaints are considered in accordance with it.