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Care should be based on assessed need

COUNCILS are being asked to ensure that their care provision is determined by an individual assessment of needs, even in times of financial pressure. This is in response to a Local Government Ombudsman investigation which revealed a Council's attempts to make blanket reductions to the support it gave to vulnerable people without first assessing their needs.  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council decided to cut the hours it offered for respite care in order to make budgetary savings, and applied a blanket restriction of 4 weeks' per annum respite regardless of the individual needs of carers in its area. The situation was uncovered after the LGO was contacted by a couple who care for their sister who has learning disabilities and dementia. They complained their respite care allowance had been halved by the Council from 8 weeks a year to just 4, without social workers 1st conducting a needs assessment. The couple were told by social workers that the decision affected all users and after complaining to the Council, they contacted the Ombudsman. The LGO wrote to the Council asking for information about the case. Instead of providing the information requested, the Council acknowledged it had reduced the respite in error and offered to settle the complaint, reinstating the couple's respite to 8 weeks a year and also awarding any respite owed.  Further clarification was sought, and the Council accepted it had reduced respite care without carrying out a full needs assessment and recognised the instruction given to social work teams had been too rigidly applied and without proper regard to people's individual needs and circumstances. The LGO's investigation identified others may have been affected by the application of the policy.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said:- "Councils have a duty to assess people's care needs and provide services at a level appropriate to those needs regardless of the limited budgets they may have.  Authorities cannot simply decide to place restrictions on care without ensuring that it meets people's needs. I am pleased Knowsley Council swiftly recognised its error and will now be assessing how this might have affected other service users in their area. I now would encourage Councils to consider my report and any implications it may have for their care provision."

To remedy the injustice the Council has agreed to reinstate the respite to 8 weeks for the couple, and award any respite missed due to the incorrect reduction. It will also send a letter of apology and review its process for allocating respite. The LGO has also asked the Council to provide a similar remedy to other people in the area whose respite it cut without assessing their needs.

Man charged following robbery

FOLLOWING an incident at Liverpool 1 on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, that 18 year old man had been taken ill and later died in Hospital, will be investigated. Merseyside Police can confirm that specialist Officers are providing support to his family during this difficult time. Merseyside Police have also stated that the also offer "our sincere condolences to his family and friends." Adding:- "We are working closely with community leaders in Toxteth, who we have developed strong relationship with, over the years, in order to ensure that the community and the man's family are kept supported and informed in the coming days and weeks."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is carrying out an independent investigation due to the fact that Police Officers had involvement with him during his detention, by security staff, at Liverpool 1. The IPCC investigation will review all the actions taken on the night of his death. Merseyside Police said:- "We are fully co-operating with their investigation and, whilst we are committed to being open and transparent, the nature of the IPCC investigation does limit the amount of information we can provide as we cannot be seen to influence or compromise it. However we can say that just after 6pm last night Merseyside Police received about a man having run into a house in the Toxteth area in a distressed state. The man then left the address when seen by the occupier. The force then received further calls from the public describing a man with a knife behaving erratically at a number of locations throughout the City Centre, including in Liverpool 1. The man was eventually located near to Liverpool 1 by security and Police where it was quickly established that he appeared to be suffering from a medical episode. An Ambulance was requested and quickly arrived. He was taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 7.53pm. The matter was immediately referred to the IPCC because of Police involvement with the man before he died. A Home Office post mortem examination has also taken place. We fully support and would like to reiterate the IPCC's request for anyone who witnessed anything that could help their investigation to call the IPCC on:- 0800 096 9070 or email."

Man charged following robbery

MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed that a male, aged 41, has been charged following a robbery on Cambridge Road, in Crosby, on Tuesday, 12 July 2016. We are told that a handbag was reported to have been taken from a 53 year old woman in the incident. Peter Mellor, who are are told is from Waterloo, has been charged with robbery. He has been remanded in custody and later appeared at South Sefton Magistrates Court, on Thursday, 14 July 2016.