Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns that Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Council) failed to arrange the provision of appropriate housing to meet the needs of Mr C and his family from September 2004 to date (the needs arising as a result of Mr C being disabled in a traffic accident in September 2004).
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that the Council failed to undertake the appropriate assessments, identify the familys needs and provide for the necessary housing adaptations in a timely manner (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council:
- (i) introduce a detailed assessment framework for identifying the needs of each individual entitled to be so assessed and what adaptations might be required to meet those needs. This assessment should include input from all professionals involved including (but not limited to) Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Health Professionals;
- (ii) review the current policy with respect to Private Sector Housing Improvement Grants and ensure that the policy is clear as to its limitations (both of funding and which needs will be met) and what adaptations might constitute an exception to the usual limit. Action should also be taken to ensure that relevant staff are fully aware of this policy, these limits and exceptions;
- (iii) introduce a procedure for dealing with adaptation cases where no agreement can be reached;
- (iv) as a matter of urgency produce a statement of needs for Mr C and his family, the adaptations needed to meet these needs and a plan for how these adaptations might be achieved; and
- (v) in recognition of the avoidable delays which have occurred in meeting Mr C's long term needs and the distress caused by this, make a payment to Mr C of £5,000.
The Council have already accepted the recommendations and have already enacted recommendation (iv) and is the process of taking action that will achieve (iii).