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| Disabled man 'put up for auction' on care website | Disabled man 'put up for auction' on care website |
| (4 months later) | |
| The family of a man with a learning disability say they are horrified that their local council put him "up for auction" on a care website. | The family of a man with a learning disability say they are horrified that their local council put him "up for auction" on a care website. |
| Emma Knight found Devon County Council was inviting companies to bid to look after her 45-year-old brother James. | Emma Knight found Devon County Council was inviting companies to bid to look after her 45-year-old brother James. |
| The website listed other personal details that James's family say could easily identify him. | The website listed other personal details that James's family say could easily identify him. |
| Devon County Council says it was not an auction and it needs to be open and honest with care providers. | Devon County Council says it was not an auction and it needs to be open and honest with care providers. |
| James Knight suffered brain damage at birth, and for 28 years lived in a residential home in Exeter. | James Knight suffered brain damage at birth, and for 28 years lived in a residential home in Exeter. |
| But when that home closed, Devon County Council listed him on a website available to all care companies across the county to invite them to accommodate him. | But when that home closed, Devon County Council listed him on a website available to all care companies across the county to invite them to accommodate him. |
| Emma Knight told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours: "The care home he's in at the moment identified my brother on this tender website and told me about it. | Emma Knight told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours: "The care home he's in at the moment identified my brother on this tender website and told me about it. |
| "There's a huge amount of detail on there from every aspect of James's life - personal, as well as his day-to-day routine." | "There's a huge amount of detail on there from every aspect of James's life - personal, as well as his day-to-day routine." |
| The website also listed what the potential care providers could expect to get from the council for James's care, which was £500 a week. | The website also listed what the potential care providers could expect to get from the council for James's care, which was £500 a week. |
| Devon County Council said: "We would like to stress that this process is not a bidding process, nor is it an auction to the lowest offer. | Devon County Council said: "We would like to stress that this process is not a bidding process, nor is it an auction to the lowest offer. |
| "It's a process that has to be sensitive to the individual and their family, and honest and open with potential care providers." | "It's a process that has to be sensitive to the individual and their family, and honest and open with potential care providers." |
| Emma has complained to the Information Commissioner's Office about the sharing of her brother's details and she thinks inviting care homes to bid for James's care is wrong. | Emma has complained to the Information Commissioner's Office about the sharing of her brother's details and she thinks inviting care homes to bid for James's care is wrong. |
| She says: "I think that this sort of tendering should be stopped and it should be public knowledge who is listed on this website." | She says: "I think that this sort of tendering should be stopped and it should be public knowledge who is listed on this website." |
| James's family has now found him a new home that costs more than the advertised tender. Devon County Council has agreed to pay. | James's family has now found him a new home that costs more than the advertised tender. Devon County Council has agreed to pay. |
| Peter Hay, who speaks for the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: "A number of councils have moved to this individual purchasing arrangement to support greater personalisation of care. | Peter Hay, who speaks for the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: "A number of councils have moved to this individual purchasing arrangement to support greater personalisation of care. |
| "We're trying to improve quality - it's not about price. The individual's information is not publicly available. " | "We're trying to improve quality - it's not about price. The individual's information is not publicly available. " |
| The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said it did not know how many councils used similar online tools to place people in need of residential care. | The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said it did not know how many councils used similar online tools to place people in need of residential care. |
| However, six local authorities, including Birmingham, are using an online tool that does the reverse - allowing the public to view places available in care facilities that may be suitable for their relatives. | However, six local authorities, including Birmingham, are using an online tool that does the reverse - allowing the public to view places available in care facilities that may be suitable for their relatives. |