Council assessment failings caused ‘stress and anxiety’ to blind woman with autism

A blind woman with autism did not have her needs properly assessed or met by Shropshire Council’s adult services, an investigation has found.

The authority has been ordered to make a string of improvements and re-assess the woman’s needs after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said its failings had caused her “significant undue stress and anxiety”.

The council said it accepted the ombudsman’s findings and was in the process of arranging a new assessment.

A report on the investigation says the woman, named only as Miss X, was visited by her social worker in June 2021 for a review, and she told them that she wished to do more social activities, go to college, visit family living elsewhere in the country and go on holiday.

But the ombudsman found these needs were not properly considered in the social worker’s assessment, so no measures were put in place to help her achieve these aims. However the social worker did recommend an additional 10 hours of care per week.

The report says: “While the assessment covered these points about which Miss X was unhappy, it did not address these in a way which meant her needs would be met in full.”

The council confirmed to the ombudsman that the social worker was qualified and experienced, and would request support from colleagues if necessary, “particularly around autism”.

The report says: “This is reassuring. However, staff conducting needs assessments and making decisions about the lives of adults with autism, should have specialist training in autism.

“This is stipulated in the 2015 statutory guidance to the Autism Act 2009 and also by the previous 2010 guidance. Eight years ago, in 2015, the guidance said councils should have made good progress on this.”

The woman has also contacted the council about transport to help her access social activities, which the report says was “crucial” to her being able to attend activities but was “not addressed in her care and support plan”.

The report says Miss X had not received a response to her emails and felt that she was always “brushed off”.

It also says she has been unable to complete a financial assessment as she is unable to access the forms, meaning she could have been paying too much for her care.

The report says the council has now offered to send a financial officer to complete an assessment with Miss X at home, and reimburse any potential overpayment.

However Miss X further complained that the council said it would pay the money into her direct payment account and not her bank account.

She also complained that the council wanted to send her assessment and other forms through online software that she would need to pay to access, and that she had paid for a piece of equipment herself for £1,600 which the council should have funded. The report notes the council has already offered to refund this.

The ombudsman upheld Miss X’s complaint and made nine recommendations, which the council has accepted.

These include arranging a fresh assessment of Miss X’s needs by a social worker with specialist autism training, and with input from a specialist in sight loss. The report says this should fully consider the issues raised by Miss X, such as support with attending social activities, college, visiting family, a holiday and transport.

The report says the council should ensure all staff are trained in autism in line with legal requirements, and that is should review how it sends documents to Miss X.

Once Miss X’s financial assessment has been completed, the report says any overpayment should be repaid into an account specified by her and not into her direct payment account.

Natalie McFall, Shropshire Council’s assistant director for adult social care and housing, said: “Shropshire Council accepts the findings from the ombudsman report.

“We understand the concerns made by the individual and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“We take the wellbeing of people very seriously and will always work with those who are assessed as needing support, and their families, to ensure their needs are met.

“We are in the process of arranging a further review with the individual to ensure the appropriate support is provided.”