Southwark to pay £3,000

The local government ombudsman has ruled that the London Borough
of Southwark social services department was wrong to cut the hours
of a disabled client’s care plan.

Ombudsman Edward Osmotherly backed the client’s complaint and
recommended the council pay £3,000 in compensation and review
the complainant’s care plan as soon as possible. Osmotherly stated
he was not satisfied that the complainant’s recreational needs were
properly considered or that the reassessment of the care plan was
properly completed.

He also said there was a serious delay by the council in
reaching a conclusion at stage two of the statutory social services
complaints procedure.