Disabled man was left without care after council failures

The council said it has apologised to the man

A disabled man suffered “significant distress” after a council's failings left him without care, according to a report.

The man complained to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) after experiencing difficulties with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM).

The LGO found the way the council and its provider, Optalis, delivered services caused delays of up to 21 months and that the man missed two days of care.

RBWM said it has apologised to him.

The LGO told the council to pay the man £2,000 in compensation for various problems.

The man said his house needed new carpet to help him get around upstairs.

But the LGO found the way the council dealt with that caused delays of up to 21 months.

Other issues installing a downstairs toilet meant it was fitted three-and-a-half months later than it otherwise might have been.

For those two delays, RBWM will pay £1,050 and £350 respectively.

For being left without care for two days, the man will be given a symbolic payment of £100. For an issue that saw his direct payments to pay for care stopped, he will receive £500.

A RBWM spokesperson, on behalf of the council and Optalis, said: “Across the borough, we work every day to support hundreds of vulnerable people to help them live as independently as possible, however in this case we didn’t get things right and we accept the Ombudsman’s findings.

“This matter dates back to 2022. We have apologised formally to the gentleman, offered him the chance to discuss his needs further and made the required payment.

"We are taking forward all required remedies, including making any necessary changes to internal processes and practices.”