Case Ref: 24 007 183 Category: Education Sub Category: School admissions

• By training or other means, remind appeal panels and clerks that the panel must satisfy itself that the school has made its case for prejudice when considering stage one of an appeal and that reasons for its decision must be recorded in the clerk’s notes.

Case Ref: 24 003 984 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• the Council will remind relevant staff of the need to secure the provision in an Education, Health and Care Plan until such time as the plan is legally ceased.
• clarify arrangements for appeals against the refusal of a personal budget.

Case Ref: 24 003 646 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• Implement a process of recording the rationale for assessments of ‘housing needs’ points under its allocations policy and include a summary of that rationale in decision letters to applicants.

Case Ref: 24 003 408 Category: Education Sub Category: School admissions

• The Council agreed to remind all panel members and clerks of the need for the panel to properly consider submissions made.
• The Council agreed to remind all clerks of the need for decision letters to give clear reasons for the panel’s decision which explain how and why issues of facts or law raised during the hearing were decided.

Case Ref: 24 001 504 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to remind relevant council officers of the importance of keeping parents updated during the Education, Health, and Care Plan process, particularly in situations where statutory timescales are not met.

Case Ref: 23 009 985 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• The Council will direct a local adult social care provider not to issue private contracts to residents or relatives whose care it commissions.
• The Council will review procedures for triaging referrals for assessments to ensure it meets the legal timeframes in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Case Ref: 23 008 901 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will send us an action plan setting out how it will ensure similar delays do not happen when finalising EHC plans in future.

Case Ref: 23 001 904 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Transport

• The Council introduced a new blue badge application process which included training for its staff.

Case Ref: 23 001 186 Category: Planning Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to share the findings of our investigation with relevant officers and identify wider points of learning.