The local government ombudsman found “serious” failures in the council’s handling of the case dating back to 2006, when the girl in question was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act at the age of 13.
The girl’s father complained to the ombudsman after the council withdrew financial support for his daughter’s residential school placement, where she stayed five days a week. Their decision to stop the funding meant that the girl had to return home to live with her family full-time.
The girl's health needs included autistic spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder and bipolar disorder. Her behaviour was sometimes violent as a result.
Local government ombudsman Jane Martin said the council’s decision to allow the girl to return home compromised her parents’ and siblings’ lives. The girl’s health subsequently deteriorated and her parents’ marriage collapsed.
“Given the view of the child’s consultant psychiatrist, I do not consider there is any doubt that proper and timely review of her residential placement would have confirmed the need for it to continue,” she said.
“She was wrongly deprived of the continuity of care and security that is so vital to her wellbeing. And her parents and siblings had significantly less relief from her challenging and at times frightening behaviour.”
The council has agreed to make a full apology and review its practices and procedures to learn lessons from the complaint.
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