Council 'failed' autistic girl
4:24pm Tuesday 29th April 2008 in News By Morwenna Blake
AN autistic girl and her family were failed by the maladministration of Wiltshire County Council, the Local Government Ombudsman has ruled.
The Ombudsman, Jerry White, has recommended the council apologises to the girl and her family, who have not been identified, pays them £10,000 compensation and reviews its administrative arrangements.
In his report he said: "Education and social care professionals did not work together effectively with one another and with the healthcare professionals involved, to ensure that not only the girl's needs, but those of her parents and siblings were met.
"The failures here had significant consequences for the health, happiness and wellbeing of the whole family, as well as for the (girl's) development at an important stage of her life."
Adverse effects
The Ombudsmen heard the girl's educational needs had been assessed in June 2005 and it was recommended she attend a special school when due to transfer to secondary education the following year.
Several months later the council told the family it was considered the support package in place already met the child's needs, but did not provide adequate explanation for their decision. While the parents and the council consulted, the young girl was attending a local day school where she did not settle and, from January 2007, she refused to attend school, remaining at home until September 2007, at which point she obtained a place at a residential special school.
In the meantime, the Council offered little further support and, in particular, no offer of further respite care was made until May 2007.
The Ombudsman considered that during this period the girl's health and wellbeing, as well as that of her parents and siblings, suffered significant adverse effects.
Council apologises
Jimmy Doyle, assistant director for children and families at Wiltshire County Council, said: "We fully accept the findings of the Local Government Ombudsman.
We apologise to the family for the way this matter has been handled and for the distress it has caused them. We have already made changes to the way services are delivered to ensure better communications and co-ordination between education and social care services. We will continue to review the way we provide these types of services to help ensure such a situation does not happen again."
