A Wirral teenager has been paid more than £4,000 after the council was hammered by a watchdog for leaving him without any education.
The teen, who has autism, had initially been offered a place at a mainstream college with a package of support in 2019, but before the start of the September term the college withdrew its offer. Wirral Council then looked at further options.
The teenager’s mum told the council she would prefer a residential school, but when the council issued a final EHC [Education, Health and Care) plan in May the following year it still did not name a school for him to attend.
READ MORE: Backlash over Birkenhead school merger plans
The teenager’s mother asked the ombudsman to look into her son’s situation after the council took too long to review his EHC Plan. This left him without a place when he left his specialist school at the end of Year 12.
Wirral Council has said it is sorry that this young person did not receive the care and support they ought to have had. The authority has paid the teenager £4,400 to reflect the poor practice an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman identified. It will also pay the mother £250 to reflect her avoidable distress.
The investigation found the length of time it took the council to review the teenager’s plan was a fault on the local authority’s part. It also criticised the council’s record keeping from that time.
The investigation found the council did not meet the proper timescales and take decisions it should in reviewing the teenager’s EHC Plan. It therefore failed to identify he was out of education during the first national lockdown.
Michael King, who represents the ombudsman, said: “Because of the faults I have identified, this teenager was left without an educational placement when he should have been starting the autumn term. The council did not follow the proper review process, so for a long time the boy’s mother was not even able to use her appeal rights to the tribunal to see if the situation could be improved.
“I’m pleased the council has accepted my findings, and hope the improvements it will now make will ensure other children and young people with EHC Plans are not affected in the same way.”
As well as this, Wirral Council will complete its review of the annual EHC Plan review process, which is already underway, and arrange training with relevant officers.
A spokesperson for Wirral Council, said: “We are very sorry that this young person did not receive the care and support they ought to have had from us. We have accepted the recommendations of the ombudsman and are working to ensure this service is improved and measures put in place to make sure other children and young people with EHC Plans are not affected in the same way in future.
“This includes a complete review of the annual EHC Plan process and additional training.”
