Example
C requested an independent review on behalf of their sibling-in-law (A). A had applied for a community care grant to try and improve their living conditions following a bereavement and health issues.
The council awarded some of the requested items but did not award a sofa or kitchen and hallway flooring. They assessed that these items did not meet the relevant priority level in place.
We reviewed the council's file and corresponded with C. The council had assessed that A’s need for seating did not meet the necessary priority level as they had brought in a chair from the street that had been discarded by another home. As such they deemed that their need for seating had been met. We noted that the chair had been infested with fleas and had subsequently been disposed of. In any case, we did not consider that this represented appropriate seating, particularly given that A suffered from a spinal injury. We assessed that the approach taken by the council was not in line with the fund's principles of respect and dignity and changed their decision not to award a sofa. We did not change the decision in relation to the hallway or kitchen flooring as these are low use areas of the home, and we deemed that they did not meet the necessary priority level for an award.