CYP Now - Council failed to support woman and children fleeing violence, ombudsman finds

West Berkshire Council has been criticised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) for failing to provide safe accommodation to a woman and her children who were fleeing threats of violence.

Ombudsman Michael King found that West Berkshire Council had failed to fulfil its duty to support woman and children fleeing threats of violence. Picture: Office of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

The mother, referred to as Ms X, was denied the opportunity to submit a homelessness application to the council and was told to return to her old council area, the ombudsman Michael King found. The woman's complaint also said the council delayed dealing with her application for a discretionary housing payment and her housing register application.

Though the woman had previously been a tenant in a different council area, she had to leave her home with her children in December 2020 due to threats of violence, according to the LGO's report.

Following a brief stay in emergency accommodation, the police advised her to approach West Berkshire Council and present as homeless, warning her old area was no longer safe.

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