News

Leeds Council has agreed to pay £300 to a woman whose father had collapsed and died while being regularly visited by home care assistants.

An investigation by the local government ombudsman found that a care assistant, who was provided as cover for the man's carer, went away without carrying out further checks when she received no reply at his home.

She planned to return later but in the meantime the man's daughter and grandson discovered his body.

It was also found that the care assistant's manager had failed to inform her that a colleague had found the man collapsed on the floor two days before.

The council's subsequent handling of the daughter's complaint was "lamentable", according to the ombudsman. The daughter waited six months for a response because of a series of errors. The council has now provided written guidance to home care assistants about what to do when clients do not reply to a call at their door.