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Council criticised over care saga Council criticised over care saga
(10 minutes later)
A council has been heavily criticised by a watchdog for its treatment of a man with learning difficulties.A council has been heavily criticised by a watchdog for its treatment of a man with learning difficulties.
The public services ombudsman for Wales said 38-year-old Terry Laurence suffered "a grave injustice" from Vale of Glamorgan council after a dispute.The public services ombudsman for Wales said 38-year-old Terry Laurence suffered "a grave injustice" from Vale of Glamorgan council after a dispute.
Mr Laurence was suspended from the council's day care centres for two-and-a-half years after a dispute started between staff and his family.Mr Laurence was suspended from the council's day care centres for two-and-a-half years after a dispute started between staff and his family.
The council said it had apologised and started a plan to address the problems.The council said it had apologised and started a plan to address the problems.
It will also pay Mr Laurence and his family £4,000 in compensation.It will also pay Mr Laurence and his family £4,000 in compensation.
His father Ken Laurence said after the suspension his son had no purpose or direction in his life.His father Ken Laurence said after the suspension his son had no purpose or direction in his life.
"He was taken away from all his peer group, all his friends that he was in school with and he virtually used to stay in bed until midday because he didn't have anything else to do," said Mr Laurence."He was taken away from all his peer group, all his friends that he was in school with and he virtually used to stay in bed until midday because he didn't have anything else to do," said Mr Laurence.
'Disturbing''Disturbing'
John Smith, the MP for the Vale of Glamorgan said he was "very dismayed" by the report and called for a full inquiry.John Smith, the MP for the Vale of Glamorgan said he was "very dismayed" by the report and called for a full inquiry.
"This is probably the most disturbing ombudsman's report I've ever read in all my time as a member of parliament or indeed the years before that in local government. This is very, very serious indeed."This is probably the most disturbing ombudsman's report I've ever read in all my time as a member of parliament or indeed the years before that in local government. This is very, very serious indeed.
"I want a guarantee that nothing like this could ever be repeated again, either against vulnerable adults as in this case, or children, or anybody else who social services in my constituency are responsible for.""I want a guarantee that nothing like this could ever be repeated again, either against vulnerable adults as in this case, or children, or anybody else who social services in my constituency are responsible for."
In August 2005, the manager of day car services excluded Mr Laurence from the centres following two incidents, including one where Mr Laurence accused a council officer of pushing him.In August 2005, the manager of day car services excluded Mr Laurence from the centres following two incidents, including one where Mr Laurence accused a council officer of pushing him.
The ombudsman found maladministration in the council's investigation of these incidents.The ombudsman found maladministration in the council's investigation of these incidents.
We have now put in place an action plan to address all the identified shortcomings John Maitland Evans, Vale of Glamorgan council chief executiveWe have now put in place an action plan to address all the identified shortcomings John Maitland Evans, Vale of Glamorgan council chief executive
The report said an investigation into the reasons why Mr Laurence had been suspended from the day centres had not been carried out properly and that a meeting had failed to reach a "robust conclusion" based on impartial evidence.The report said an investigation into the reasons why Mr Laurence had been suspended from the day centres had not been carried out properly and that a meeting had failed to reach a "robust conclusion" based on impartial evidence.
When his father complained to the council, the report found proper complaint procedures were not followed.When his father complained to the council, the report found proper complaint procedures were not followed.
The reason for Mr Laurence's exclusion was an apparent risk from his family based on "hearsay", the report found.The reason for Mr Laurence's exclusion was an apparent risk from his family based on "hearsay", the report found.
Following an independent investigation, a new assessment of Mr Laurence's needs in March 2007 said he should be reinstated immediately to one of the day centres, but this did not happen.Following an independent investigation, a new assessment of Mr Laurence's needs in March 2007 said he should be reinstated immediately to one of the day centres, but this did not happen.
He was only allowed to return in March 2008.He was only allowed to return in March 2008.
The ombudsman recommended the council pay £3,000 to Mr Laurence and a further £1,000 to his parents in recognition of the work his family had gone to to care for him during the two-and-a-half years he had been excluded.The ombudsman recommended the council pay £3,000 to Mr Laurence and a further £1,000 to his parents in recognition of the work his family had gone to to care for him during the two-and-a-half years he had been excluded.
It also said the council should ensure its staff understood the "difference between fact, hearsay and conjecture in the process of decision making" and the importance of documenting decisions and the reasons behind them.It also said the council should ensure its staff understood the "difference between fact, hearsay and conjecture in the process of decision making" and the importance of documenting decisions and the reasons behind them.
Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said it was vital the council looked very long and hard at how they were managing the service.Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said it was vital the council looked very long and hard at how they were managing the service.
"They must make sure their management is effective and they must remember to keep service users at the heart of their consideration," he said."They must make sure their management is effective and they must remember to keep service users at the heart of their consideration," he said.
"The acid test for me will be to see if we get further complaints of this kind coming in."The acid test for me will be to see if we get further complaints of this kind coming in.
"They did have the steps in place but they didn't implement them. We now need to see that the implementation is effective.""They did have the steps in place but they didn't implement them. We now need to see that the implementation is effective."
RegretRegret
The chief executive of Vale of Glamorgan council, John Maitland Evans, apologised to the family for the "anxiety and stress" the matter caused them.The chief executive of Vale of Glamorgan council, John Maitland Evans, apologised to the family for the "anxiety and stress" the matter caused them.
"The council regrets that, in this instance, the level of service fell below what would have been reasonably expected and has accepted all the Ombudsman's recommendations," he said."The council regrets that, in this instance, the level of service fell below what would have been reasonably expected and has accepted all the Ombudsman's recommendations," he said.
"We have now put in place an action plan to address all the identified shortcomings.""We have now put in place an action plan to address all the identified shortcomings."