A teenager with significant support needs was at significant risk of self-harm after a council left him ‘on the brink of homeless’, an ombudsman has reported.
According to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, the young person was just days away from being made homeless because Devon County Council had not decided where he should live when he turned 18.
Its adult services department did not let him stay in his children’s home, a decision that was ‘purely financially driven’, the Ombudsman said.
Accommodation was eventually found but it was 40 miles away from his mother, who did not drive, and 60 miles from his education placement.
The teenager missed half a term of education while the council made travel arrangements.
The Ombudsman said the uncertainty had a major impact on the young person’s wellbeing and put him at significant risk of self-harm.
Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal said: ‘This inertia by the council, and the lack of joined-up working between departments, led to a young man – who needs stability, security and routine – having his world rocked by the uncertainty of where he would be living in future.’
Devon’s cabinet member for adult services, Phil Bullivant, and cabinet member for children’s services, Andrew Leadbetter, said: ‘We recognise that our shared responsibility across both services in providing care to individuals with complex needs was not adequately met, resulting in unnecessary anxiety and hardship for the young person and his family.
‘We are committed to learning from this case and have taken immediate steps to improve our processes.’
