Leicestershire County Council has agreed to improve how it prepares social care and support plans after a visually impaired woman was left without support for nearly two years.

The woman was left to look after herself for 21 months without support from the council, despite being assessed in March 2020 as having eligible support needs in areas including food, personal hygiene, being able to use her home safely and accessing the community.

The council eventually agreed to set her a personal budget for 12 hours a week support in April 2021. Further assessments were made, and the council finally agreed a package of support which started at the end of January 2022.

Following a complaint by a representative of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the council said the woman had declined support during the pandemic.

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the woman had not declined support.

The Ombudsman criticised the council for the lack of help it provided to the woman, and for the delays she faced when the council assessed her care needs and prepared her care and support plan.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: ‘The lack of social care support over 21 months has had a significant impact on this woman’s life – she has burnt herself frequently when trying to cook and has also had several falls.

‘She has also not been able to socialise without the support which she was entitled to, and this has led to her feeling isolated and lonely.’

A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council said: ‘As the report outlines, we fully accept the findings of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and we are now actively working on the remedies and will provide a further update within the timescales set out.’