Croydon council has been criticised for failing to provide respite care for the mother of a disabled teenager because it would cost too much.
The council argued that the care for the teen, who has Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is largely non-verbal, would cost significantly more than the average placement.
Up to the age of 16, the teenager attended a residential school as a day pupil, which also offered weekly overnight respite care. The school stopped providing respite care in December 2019.
The boy’s mother subsequently found a provider that could offer the support her son needed. However, the council said it cost too much. The mother ended up paying for limited respite care by cutting back on other care her son needed.
After complaining to the council, the mother asked the Ombudsman to investigate.
Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: ‘Councils have a duty to meet people’s assessed needs and cannot restrict the support they provide based purely on cost. In this case, a mother had no respite from solely caring for her teenage son because the council could not agree how much it would pay, despite a professional assessment deeming he most likely needed at least two-to-one care.
‘I’m also concerned with the way the council handled the mother’s complaint. Councils can seek to get a better understanding and resolve a complaint early, but this should happen alongside the statutory process rather than replace it. Councils still need to follow the proper process and meet the timescales set out.
‘I am pleased the council has finally agreed to all the recommendations I have made to remedy the situation for the family and ensure it learns from the things that have gone wrong.’
A council spokesperson said: ‘We accept the report findings and recommendations, and we are sorry that we didn’t provide this family with the proper support in arranging respite care.
‘We have apologised and compensated them for the distress this has caused, and we are continually working to improve our services for children and adults with disabilities, and their families.’
