REDBRIDGE: Council fined for failing to support autistic boy

In a damning report, Local Government Ombudsman Tony Redmond said a family had been left "significantly distressed" after the authority was unable to provide a special occupational therapist for the child, despite saying it would do so.

The boy's parents - known only as "Mr and Mrs Cotton" to protect their identities - said their son had "regressed" in his development because of the ordeal.

The Cottons were originally told their son would receive regular help from a therapist specially trained in the area of "sensory integration" for children with autism, starting in October 2008.

However the help never arrived, despite the family complaining to the council.

In May 2009 a therapist was found, but only as she was about to go on an extended period of annual leave.

The council has now said it hopes to start the sessions in September.

Ombudsman Mr Redmond said the delay was unacceptable and that he was "more persuaded" by the family's version of events than the claims of the council.

Mr and Mrs Cotton pointed to a report by the National Services Framework for Children and Young People in their complaint, which stated: "Waiting long periods for rehabilitation and therapy can greatly harm the educational attainment and wider development of individual children and young people. It can result in loss of function and ability."

They said their son's writing skills had actually reduced, so that he is now unsure how to even hold a pencil.

The council said skills shortages and changes in employment laws meant it could not find anyone to fit the role within its own set timeframe, but Mr Redmond said: "The difficulties it encountered in recruiting someone due to changes in employment rules do not absolve the council of its duty."

He added: "the council made some efforts to recruit someone but in my view it should have been aware that changes in the recruitment market would make this a more difficult task than it might have been previously."

Mr Redmond has ordered the council to pay £1,000 in compensation for the “injustice” Andrew had been caused, £250 for the distress his parents suffered and a further £250 for the time and stress in complaining about the situation.

The authority must also pay £100 a month until the boy starts his therapy sessions.

Ivan Corea, of the South Woodford-based charity The Autism Awareness Campaign, said he was not surprised by the report and urged Redbridge Council to increase investment in its care of autistic children.

He said: "Autism is not going to go away. I know it is hard for Redbridge and they have improved, but councils still need to get their acts together.

"We had a similar issue with my son. Between the ages of four and eight when we were moving from Essex to Redbridge he didn't get any speech therapy, so we had to look for some privately. Back then the onus was on the parents to find the services themselves.

"But now we need more funding and investment. That children get these services from a young age is crucial for their development."

Pat Reynolds, the council's director of children's services, said: "The council acknowledges its failure to deliver this package of provision within the timescale and apologises for the delay and distress caused to the family.

"The failure was partly linked to the very specialised resource the council was seeking on behalf of the family. However the Ombudsmen did highlight in the report that the Council 'maintained that this was not due to a lack of effort on its part...and that the...head of children’s occupational therapy personally took on this task and spent considerable amount of time talking to at least 15 agencies and at least five independent agencies but none were able to help.'

"The council will give careful and serious consideration to the report of the findings of the Local Government Ombudsman...and the recommendations in that report."

A spokeswoman for the Ombudsman said it could not reveal where in the borough the boy lives.