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Scottish Public Service Ombudsman partially upholds complaint about Highland Council's lack of information on support for mother's school-aged child


By Louise Glen

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A MUM who made a complaint about Highland Council's lack of information on the support for her school-aged child has had her complaint partially upheld by the ombudsman.

The Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) said that clear guidance had to be in place for staff to meet the needs of children with any additional needs.

The SPSO investigated the case after the mum, who has been named Ms C, raised concerns about information regarding the support in place for her child.

The report stated: "Ms C complained that the council failed to ensure that there was adequate support in place for her child (Child A) at school.

"The council had accepted that there were occasions when information about Child A was not taken into account and there were occasions when it was not fully shared.

"There was also insufficient up-to-date information for new staff at the school and there should have been more proactive partnership working with mental health services. In view of these failings, we upheld the complaint."

The mum of the child, also complained that the head teacher at the school unreasonably failed to fulfil their role as named person and lead professional under the Highland Practice Model. SPSO said it found that the child's plan in place at the start of the school year had been out-of-date and there were then delays in updating this. It upheld Ms C's complaint.

The SPSO said the council failed to carry out a reasonable investigation into her complaints.

The SPSO said: "We found that the council had carried out a thorough investigation, but that the response did not provide adequate information about the action the council would take to put things right or to ensure that the failings were not repeated. It also failed to adequately apologise for the failings identified."

Ms C also complained that her child's teacher had unreasonably failed to support them in class. But the SPSO said it did not find any clear evidence of failings in relation to this and did not uphold this part of the complaint.

SPSO asked Highland Council to apologise to Ms C for the failings it had identified.

It told the council to make sure there is clear guidance in place for staff in relation to the relationship between a child's plan and any co-ordinated support plan. It said "Where appropriate under the Highland Practice Model, there should be an up-to-date child's plan in place."

We have asked the organisation to provide us with evidence that they have implemented the recommendations.

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