Calderdale Council has apologised after a man with a rapidly progressing form of dementia was left in unsuitable hotel accommodation for too long.
The council placed the vulnerable man in a hotel after he became homeless in October 2021 while it decided what could be done for him.
However, the housing and adult social care departments decided they could not act until the other had done so, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).
The lack of communication between the departments left the vulnerable man without the social care support he needed in unsuitable accommodation for too long, the LGSCO found.
The man was eventually sectioned under the Mental Health Act and later passed away in hospital.
The man’s sister complained about her brother’s treatment to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Ombudsman Paul Najsarek said: ‘In this case Calderdale council showed a clear lack of initiative when trying to help this man – the housing service decided it could not act until a social care assessment had taken place, while the social care department said it could not act until the man was in appropriate housing.
‘This meant the man was left in unsuitable accommodation for far too long, with no social support and officers relying on the goodwill of untrained hotel staff to keep tabs on him.
‘To its credit, the council has readily accepted our report’s findings and has agreed a host of measures to ensure this situation cannot happen again.’
Cllr Josh Fenton-Glynn, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for Adult Services and Wellbeing, said: ‘We made mistakes which we sincerely regret. We are deeply sorry for the significant distress and impacts caused for both the complainant and her late brother, and we have sent her a formal apology.
‘We are already taking proactive steps to make sure these mistakes don’t happen again and to implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations.’
