Sheffield City Council found to have failed man’s care needs

The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman have upheld a complaint against Sheffield City Council for failing to meet a man’s care and support needs.

The man in his thirties, referred only to as Mr X in the Ombudsman report, complained that the council failed to provide the care he needs.

Mr X lives with his mother and siblings and has a history of mental health difficulties, which are linked to past trauma and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

He also experiences ‘blackouts’, according to the Ombudsman report, and his health and wellbeing declined in 2024.

He contacted the council in January 2024, but it did not complete a care assessment until later that year in July.

The assessment found he needed support managing and maintaining personal hygiene, maintaining nutrition, developing and maintaining family and other personal relationships, and accessing the local community.

However, his eligible needs were not fully met until almost a year later in June 2025, when the council finally commissioned services.

Before then, he was referred for short-term support to help him attend health appointments and engage with community mental health services.

Mr X was dissatisfied and frustrated by this support and felt the council only took action after he made a complaint in August 2025.

The Ombudsman decided the council delayed assessing and meeting Mr X’s eligible care and support needs under the Care Act 2014, and this caused him avoidable stress and difficulty.

To settle the complaint, the Ombudsman agreed the council should apologise to Mr X in writing for the delays and pay him £500 to recognise the distress, uncertainty, avoidable stress, and inconvenience caused.

Sheffield City Council said it is committed to ensuring that people who are eligible for adult social care receive timely assessments and support.

A council spokesperson said: “Following recommendations from the Ombudsman, the Council continues to review its procedures to strengthen oversight of assessment timeliness, allocation processes and support arrangements, ensuring that any delays are identified and addressed promptly.

“The council has also reminded staff and managers involved, of their duties under the Care Act 2014, including the requirement to assess needs within a reasonable timescale, meet eligible needs and keep care and support arrangements under review.