I got £800 free cash after council blunder left me feeling distressed – how to take officials on and win
A MUM got £800 free cash after a council blunder left her feeling distressed.
The North London woman, who has been named Mrs X, claims her daughter’s school attendance dramatically dropped after local officials failed to help with mental health support.
The schoolgirl, known only as “D”, was supposed to have an education, health, and care plan (EHCP) provided by Harrow Council (HC).
In the plan, it should set out what D’s school would need to do to ensure her special needs requirements are met.
A report found that the local authority’s failure to carry out the legal requirement meant both mother and daughter suffered “distress and frustration”.
Mrs X told investigators she was forced to take time off work to care for her “distraught child” and chase HC at the same time.
The EHCP was issued in August last year but by September Mrs X raised her concerns about the school supplying appropriate provisions.
Problems involved D not being given handouts with larger fonts, colourful paper and pre-teaching materials.
HC told Mrs X they would follow up her doubts with the school before a “service failure” was quickly deemed.
The LGO inspector found that the council had failed to provide the ECHP in full.
Findings resulted in Mrs X being paid £800 for the “remedy the injustice caused”.
A spokesperson for Harrow Council said: “We are sorry for the distress caused to the individual and her family and accept the decision of the LGO.
“We are committed to working closely with the family to ensure the needs of our young residents are met.”