Example
C applied for a Community Care Grant to help set up their tenancy after experiencing homelessness, having recently arrived in the UK as a refugee.
The council awarded the items that they assessed met 'high most compelling' priority rating. However, C requested a review on the basis that a sofa was not awarded.
We reviewed the council's file. C advised the council that they had a serious spinal injury which had required surgical screws and supports. They said this still caused them pain and had an impact on their mobility. On that basis, we assessed that a sofa met the high most compelling priority rating due to the health and wellbeing risk associated with a lack of seating.
Recommendations
- We instructed the council to award a two-seater sofa at 'high most compelling' on the basis of C's mobility issues.
Feedback for the council
- The council did not take account of C's health when assessing their request for a sofa.
- The council's notes did not contain sufficient detail about their assessment of the qualifying conditions.