Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman orders Haringey Council to pay £800 compensation to disabled resident, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Haringey Council has come under fire after a wheelchair user was left in “distress and uncertainty” over delays to their housing application.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said the council did not complete assessments using “up to date information” or in a “timely way”. 

Sarah Williams, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and planning, said the council had apologised and that handling of the case “fell below the standards our residents should expect”. 

The ombudsman ordered the council to pay the council tenant, referred to as Ms X, £800 in compensation.

Ms X was admitted to hospital in July 2022 and discharged in March 2023. The NHS asked the council to consider Ms X’s living situation as they deemed it was “not suitable for her increased needs”. 

The NHS also confirmed Ms X now needed an electric wheelchair. 

The health service agreed to fund an interim placement in a care home for Ms X while the council completed its assessment of the property to decide if it could be adapted or if she needed to move. 

The ombudsman said it could not say if Ms X’s accommodation was unsuitable. However, when considering the housing application the council relied on “out-of-date information” and determined Ms X’s needs did not qualify for a housing band allocation, a system that determines applicants need for social housing. 

The report also found the council took three months to screen Ms X’s application, which the ombudsman described as “frustrating Ms X” and a “fault”.

Ms X, who remained in the care home from March 2023, has now had her case resolved, according to the council.

In November after being told her one-bedroom property was suitable for her needs, Ms X lodged a complaint which the council took two months to respond to despite the 15 working day target.

The complaint was escalated to stage two which has a 25 working day response target but instead the council did not respond for seven months.

In both instances of complaint handling the ombudsman found the council to be at fault.

Cllr Williams added: “We appreciate the distress this caused, have apologised for the mistakes made and paid compensation. 

“The findings of the ombudsman are taken very seriously and have been used to improve our services, including the handling of complaints.

“I’m pleased a full reassessment has been undertaken and the matter has been resolved.”

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