Case Ref: 21 018 446 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to make the following service improvement: establish a mechanism for logging when a school/college has arranged an annual review meeting and promptly following up with the school/college for the review paperwork. This is to make sure the Council meets the statutory timescale that, within four weeks of a review meeting, the Council must notify the young person or child’s parent of its decision to maintain, amend or discontinue the EHC plan.
• The Council agreed to make the following service improvement: circulate a reminder to relevant staff that when a young person is expected to transfer from one post-16 institution to another post-16 institution partway through the school year, the Council must review and amend the EHC Plan at least five months before that transfer takes place. Regulation 18, SEND Regulations.
• The Council agreed to make the following service improvement: circulate a reminder to staff of the need to maintain robust records of important meetings with schools/colleges so there is a clear record of what was discussed, who was invited/attended and any actions agreed.

Case Ref: 21 017 097 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Disabled facilities grants

• By training or other means, reminds officers in the occupational therapy section of the Council’s timescales for replying to complaints to prevent the delays experienced by Miss X for recurring.
• Draw up an action plan, including timescales, to address the excessive delays in carrying out occupational therapy assessments and following up the recommendations of the assessments. The Council should provide a copy of the action plan to the Ombudsman

Case Ref: 21 016 160 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• •Ensure the care home has a procedure setting out when an aspiration machine may be required and how one would be obtained if the Home’s is unavailable.
• Remind the Home’s carers, including agency staff, of the guidance on thickened fluids and soft diets; giving training as necessary.

Case Ref: 21 015 427 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will, by training or other means, ensure officers are aware of the Council’s duty under section 19 of the Education Act to make alternative provision for children out of school including the factors they should consider when deciding whether alternative provision needs to be made.

Case Ref: 21 013 709 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Provide guidance to staff to ensure that final EHCP documents together with a right of appeal are issued in the correct statutory timescales.

Case Ref: 21 012 954 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• The Council agreed to explain what action it took in response to the acknowledged failings in the complainant's care at the care home, and what action it has taken to ensure safe effective care provision to other residents similarly affected and for those whom it commissions placements at the care home.
• The Council will request a detailed explanation from the Care Provider explaining what action it has taken to improve the quality of care provided at the care home, and how this is monitored.

Case Ref: 21 007 871 Category: Transport and highways Sub Category: Highway repair and maintenance

• The Council will review its complaints procedure and staff guidance to ensure formal complaints complete the Council’s complaints procedure.

Case Ref: 21 006 275 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to review its policy and practices for arranging alternative education for children not attending school for health reasons. It should ensure it considers all the available evidence and does not insist on evidence from particular health professionals. It will ensure is communicates and changes it makes to either its policy or practice to its staff and other relevant bodies (including schools in its area).

Case Ref: 21 004 521 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to issue a reminder to all relevant staff of the timescales they must work to in completing an Education, Health and Care Plan needs assessment where the decision to initiate such an assessment is made by a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. These are shorter than when the Council agrees to such an assessment on its own initiative.

Case Ref: 21 004 281 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to share the lessons learned with its adult social care staff and the care provider.