Example
C asked the SPSO to review the council's decision on their application for a community care grant. They had applied to the council for assistance with a number of items to help them to set up a new tenancy after a period of homelessness.
The council made an award of a number of items assessing they met the relevant priority for an award, but substituted the C's request for a double bed, with a single bed. C asked the council to review their decision stating a single bed would not meet their needs due to their size. They also requested that the council review the decision not to award flooring for the hall, bathroom and kitchen. The council upheld their decision not to make any additional award.
We received the council's file and spoke with C. We noted that C was a care experienced young person and was being supported by a number of organisations. We were able to verify with these organisations that C's weight might make the award of a single bed inappropriate. We changed the council's decision and assessed that a double bed should be awarded. We did not change the decision in respect of flooring for the hall, bathroom and kitchen, which we assessed did not meet high priority. We provided detailed feedback to the council about their decision letters, and failure to recognise their responsibility as corporate parent for C. We were also critical of the council's priority assessment which we assessed was not personalised to the applicant's circumstances.