Families with severely disabled children should not have to live like this.
A report by the ombudsman[i] contains the above quote (said by the disabled child’s mother). The report relates to a council’s failure (for over 3 years) to provide essential home adaptations. Despite efforts by the professionals the funding panel refused support – prompting the despairing comment from the social worker ‘I am at a loss as to what I can do to support this family. [The disabled child] has been hospitalised 3 times in the last 2 months because of medical issues’.
When will the government act? It is sitting on a review report it commissioned earlier in the year concerning Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). It seems unconcerned that many councils are not making application forms available for these grants and unconcerned that Better Care Funds earmarked for local DFGs are not always being used for this purpose – despite the strong evidence that these grants are highly cost effective.
A depressing and sadly familiar report that needs to be read.
[i] Complaint No. 17 013 347 against Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council 25 July 2018.
Posted 30 August 2018