Carers struggling with worsening conditions in loved ones and finding their situation very challenging but wanting to continue caring as long as they possibly can, is a common feature of Adult Social Services culture. These reports highlight the key principle that when a council becomes aware that someone is caring for another adult and may need support, it is under a duty to assess their needs, at the very least, on an annual basis. It must consider the outcomes the carer wants to achieve, and how their needs might change in future. It must assess the carer in a timely manner, and, if it decides the carer has support needs, it must set out how it will meet those needs.
Cornwall Cornwall Council at fault for delays in approving direct payments 18 018 350 Cornwall Cornwall County Council at fault for forcing a carer to carry on meeting needs by stopping direct payments and leaving any alternative source of care undelivered 19 004 581 Waltham Forest Waltham Forest Council found at fault by ombudsman after delaying a Carer’s Assessment for two years from the date requested and even then failing to provide the outcome of the assessment to the carer 18 006 436 Gloucestershire Gloucestershire County Council at fault for discontinuing support and for delaying reassessment 19 005 899 Tameside Tameside Council at fault for failing to carry out a carer’s assessment, and for an inadequate investigation leading to inadequate care 18 011 449 Warwickshire Warwickshire County Council at fault for the quality of care it commissioned 18 014 148 Kirklees Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council at fault for withdrawing vital services and failing to recognise its responsibility to respond to a subsequent crisis. 19 009 200 Cornwall Cornwall Council at fault for failing to properly plan transitional care between agencies 20 001 282 Bexley London Borough of Bexley delayed in both undertaking a Care Act assessment and a Carer’s Assessment for a son and mother 21 017 771 Wiltshire Wiltshire County Council at fault for failing to provide respite support agreed to be the complainant’s entitlement 20 005 582 Croydon Croydon found at fault for basing respite care decisions on costs and ‘gatekeeping’ complaints 21 013 878 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire County Council at fault for delays in completing a carer’s assessment, and non-provision of agreed respite funding 20 002 410 Suffolk Suffolk at fault for a long review process and assessments that weren’t joined UP 21 016 450 Birmingham Birmingham Council was found at fault for historical injustice, delays in assessment for transition to adult care services and numerous failures to reassess and provide carers’ assessments 19 012 575 Lincolnshire NHS Lincolnshire ICB 21 013 224B Lambeth London Borough of Lambeth at fault for failing to carry out a Mental Capacity Assessment, consider alternative accommodation, provide a care plan and for delays to transport provision 20 000 794 Croydon London Borough of Croydon at fault for failing to conduct a re-assessment, provide appropriate support, provide or keep accurate documentation or appropriately to handle a complaint 22 001 091 Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire at fault for a 20-month, ongoing delay in providing a needs assessment, and for failing to implement agreed complaint remedies 21 017 827 City of York City of York at fault for contributing to carer strain, failing to consider direct payments and safeguarding failures 22 005 428 Suffolk Suffolk County Council failed to provide adequate care based on an assessment, or to communicate its reasoning for decisions, or to support a carer adequately 21 002 572 Staffordshire Staffordshire at fault for delayed assessment after a move to the area, failing to conduct a carer’s assessment, provide agreed services and support with managing a DP 22 002 399 Lancashire Lancashire County Council at fault for failing to secure the planned respite care and over communications about potential supported living settings 22 010 039
