Wokingham Borough Council’s failures over a struggling care home caused distress and anxiety for a woman who had lived there for 16 years, an investigation has found.
The care provider announced it was closing the council-commissioned care home in 2021 after running into financial difficulty.
One resident, who is autistic and has a severe learning disability, had lived in the five-bed home since 2006.
According to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, ‘given the nature of her difficulties it was clear any move from her home would have a great impact on her wellbeing’.
An investigation by the ombudsman found there had been a ‘procedural fault’ in Wokingham BC’s actions.
It said the council should have considered doing more to prevent the closure and properly recorded its decision making.
The local authority could have given the care provider more funding or staff, although it would have had to consider its own resources, the ombudsman added.
The council was ordered to pay £1,500 to the resident and £500 to her father, who raised the complaint.
