Council pays out for maladministration

Buckinghamshire Council has been ordered to pay £1,500 to a
person with mental health problems and his adoptive parents by the
local government ombudsman after a complaint of maladministration
against the authority.

The parents complained the councils had failed to recognise that
their son was ill and required care in the community and that there
had been no assessment of his care needs when he was out of
hospital.

The ombudsman criticised Buckinghamshire for failing to communicate
clearly its roles and responsibilities to the family and for the
lack of support services available to clients. The social worker
also failed to keep case notes.

The council was told that it should review its administrative
arrangements for conducting assessments, ensure social worker case
notes are properly kept and produce a leaflet or standard letter
for mentally ill clients and carers explaining the role of its
mental health team and the types of community care provided.

Buckinghamshire said it had already reviewed its administrative
arrangements with the Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust and
admitted that there were failings in the case.

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