Gateshead Council has been ordered to pay £150 and issue an apology to a carer after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found failings in the handling of his support assessment and subsequent delays.
Background of the Case
The case, anonymised as Mr X, dates back to December 2023 when he became the sole carer for Ms Z, who had suffered a stroke. A service contracted by Gateshead Council conducted a carer's assessment for Mr X in February 2024 and again in 2025. However, the Ombudsman identified a missed opportunity in June 2024 when Mr X was referred to the council as he struggled to care for Ms Z.
Failures in Assessment and Support
Ms Z was later granted 20 hours of council care following her own assessment. The second failing occurred in 2025. Mr X had a carer support assessment in March 2025, which allowed him two hours per week of domestic help for respite. However, this support did not commence until August 2025 because Mr X did not return the required paperwork. The Ombudsman stated: "On balance, had the council followed this up with Mr X, the support could have started sooner. This was at fault and caused Mr X uncertainty about whether his support could have been put in place earlier."
Ombudsman's Findings and Council's Response
The Ombudsman, which released its findings on April 14, called for the council to pay £150 to Mr X and apologise. The watchdog noted that the council had not withdrawn Mr X's support; rather, Ms Z had cancelled her 20-hour care package in 2024 when she did not want to pay for it. A Gateshead Council spokesperson said: "We note the Ombudsman's finding that there were no significant faults in the council's actions. However, we recognise the impact this situation has had and are sorry for the uncertainty caused. We will reflect on the case to help inform and improve our future practice."
