Compensation for council failures
Two councils have been ordered to pay a total of £13,000 compensation to a "vulnerable young person" whose care arrangements were found to have failed.
The Local Government Ombudsman criticised Kent (KCC) and Essex (ECC) county councils after a complaint was made by John Moore [not his real name].
He was moved by the Essex authority to a new home in Kent, despite there being no suitable education places for him.
ECC will pay £8,000 compensation, with KCC paying £5,000.
The ombudsman, Tony Redmond, said John Moore had "learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural problems after experiencing neglect and abuse".
He had been in the care of ECC since the age of 11 and was identified as having special educational needs at the age of six.
Maladministration causing injustice
The council sought an emergency placement in Kent because there were difficulties finding him any foster care or a residential unit in Essex.
But the ombudsman found KCC failed in its educational duties, as John was only started on part-time home tuition six months after being moved to Kent.
ECC was at fault for "deciding to move him to Kent when it was told there was no suitable education available".
Mr Redmond ruled that maladministration causing injustice had occurred.
An ECC statement said the council "deeply regrets its failure", but said it had reviewed its practices so vulnerable young people had access to the right education.
Councillor Paul Carter, leader of KCC, said: "I accept we were slow in providing home tuition."
But he pointed out that the Kent's special schools were already "significantly oversubscribed".
Source: The BBC (12/12/2006)
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