Council must pay compo and apologise to family with autistic child
A “DAMNING” ombudsman report has prompted a vow that Gwynedd continues to prioritise offering the “best possible service” for children and young people.
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, upholding a complaint by the parents of an autistic child, has forced Gwynedd Council to pay £500 compensation and for the Chief Executive to write a letter of apology to the family.
The findings had been prompted by complaints it had “inappropriately influenced” the Independent Investigation Officer appointed to carry out an earlier probe.
The report, which refers to the complainants as “Mr and Mrs A”, notes that they had previously complained to the Ombudsman regarding the council (between 2010 and 2016) cutting support hours provided for their son “X” who suffers from autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance.
The complaint was that the authority had decided to discontinue some services – including reducing the support hours offered – which was upheld by the first ombudsman investigation in April 2018. The investigation concluded there had been a “failure to provide services” and recommended a comprehensive assessment of needs for the whole family.
But when another complaint was lodged on the council’s failure to assess “X” from September 2016 onwards, his parents claimed they had “lost faith” in the council and sought an independent investigation.
In addition to the apology – covering a failure to review the child in need plan and the distress caused – the council was also forced to seek specialist input to develop a plan for dealing with future assessment and support requests from those suffering from autism.
Cllr Aeron Jones, during a full council meeting, said: “While I agree parts of the (Children’s Services) department are working well, I must raise the recent ombudsman report which is damning of this authority. It describes that managers within the department have been bullying the author of the independent report.
“The report is so damning the Chief Executive had to send a letter of apology to the family that made the complaint.
“Can the cabinet member assure me there are no other families in Gwynedd that are suffering from maladministration like “Mr and Mrs A”?
Cllr Dilwyn Morgan, portfolio holder for children’s service, said it would be “inappropriate” to make further comment in regards to the ombudsman’s report.
“Our staff have to cope with difficult situations, children in danger and families facing emergency situations,” said Cllr Morgan. “I am totally confident we have the right processes in place to look at these kind of situations and can also learn from incidents like this.
“I would like to reiterate to you all that the safety and development of children in Gwynedd is a priority for us at all times and that the voice of the child is central to this.”