Charity wins care costs from council

A mental health charity has won its case for reimbursement from
Hackney Council for extra care costs incurred at one of its homes
after the local government ombudsman intervened.

The council has agreed to pay the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association more than £40,000 to meet the costs of extra night
cover for residents at the Downs Road home since 2003. The council
has also said that some residents will not be transferred to
independent living settings.

The charity contacted the ombudsman last April, claiming the
council had reneged on a promise to fund extra night cover needs
identified by the then National Care Standards Commission, and
saying residents had no wish to leave the home.

PRA director John Wilder welcomed the decision but said the
dispute had taken its toll on residents.