Derbyshire Council paid £79,000 over failed special needs support

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 13:02 · Archive

Derbyshire County Council paid more than £79,000 in compensation after an ombudsman investigation found it failed dozens of children with special educational needs.

An annual Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report into Derbyshire County Council's handling of complaints has found the authority at fault in 52 of 55 cases investigated in the past year, with 95 per cent of complaints upheld. Forty-nine of these involved children's services, relating to failures in special educational needs provision and support for education, health and care plans.

The council paid £79,838 in compensation, a rise of nearly a quarter from £64,668 the previous year, for causing what the ombudsman described as repeated 'unnecessary' and 'avoidable' distress and injustice. One family was owed £20,000. The report noted the council proposed satisfactory solutions in just nine cases, with the ombudsman having to propose suitable resolutions in almost all others.

Derbyshire Council paid £79,000 over failed special needs support — Image: Buxton Advertiser

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How it is being reported

SEND children failed by Derbyshire County Council cost taxpayers more than £79,000 in the past year - with £20,000 owed to 1 familyThe failed support of dozens of children with special educational needs has cost Derbyshire taxpayers more than £79,000 in the past year alone – with £20,000 owed to one family.Buxton Advertiser · 13 Oct, 13:24
SEND children failed by Derbyshire County Council cost taxpayers more than £79,000 in the past year - with £20,000 owed to 1 familyThe failed support of dozens of children with special educational needs has cost Derbyshire taxpayers more than £79,000 in the past year alone – with £20,000 owed to one family.Derbyshire Times · 13 Oct, 13:15
'Avoidable distress' caused to Derbyshire children due to failure to support familiesDozens of cases have found Derbyshire County Council's actions failed children and their familiesDerbyshire Live · 13 Oct, 12:22

In this story: Derbyshire County Council · Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman · Derbyshire · Reform UK

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