Croydon Council criticised for failing an autistic teenager

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman have criticised Croydon Council for refusing to provide respite care for the mother of an autistic teenager, claiming it would ‘cost too much’.

Croydon Council argued that the care for the teen, who was diagnosed with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) would cost significantly more than the average placement.

The council made this decision despite not assessing the teenagers specific needs properly or considering he may need more than one-to-one care.

Up until the age of 16 the teenage boy attended a residential school as a day pupil, which also offered weekly overnight respite care. However, in December 2019 the service was stopped, prompting Croydon Council to seek other arrangements.

After failing to find help, the boy’s mother found a provider that could offer adequate care, but the council refused to agree, claiming it was too expensive. Subsequently, the mother could only pay for limited respite care, meaning for three years the teenager had insufficient support.

After complaining to the council, the mother asked the Ombudsman, an organisation designed to settle complaints between consumers and businesses, 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.’

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman helps to improve public and adult social care services. In this instance, the organisation prompted the council to apologise to the teenager and his mother. The family were paid £4K for the loss of service, time, distress and trouble they had to endure.

Croydon Council is now also providing the mother with direct payments for respite care.

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.’

Photo by Victor Cudjoe