Letter to the Local Authority

Susan Schelewa
Operational Manager
Room 236
Adult Services
County Hall
Cardiff
CF1 4UW

8th April 2008
Dear Sue,

Thank you for your letter dated the 19th January 2008 but which was received on the 22nd March 2008 where you named Jane Williams as the person who has been identified to undertake the role of “independent oversight of the assessment process”.

Jane contacted me last week whilst I was away and I returned her call today.
I explained that I had understood her role to be that which was implied by our telephone conversations of the 29th February & 7th March.

She informed me that she had no prior knowledge of our case and that the remit she had been given by her Operational Manager Ann Linton was simply to observe the process and to write a report at the end of the assessment.

I fear that I may have misunderstood her role as being that recommended by the Independent Complaints Panel in their Stage 3 Report:

“Because of the breakdown of trust is apparent between the complainant and team manager, we think it is unlikely that this impasse can be resolved without mediation by someone appropriately qualified and trusted by the complainant and the authority.

We are of the opinion that an external mediator, experienced in work with social services should be considered to help move from the impasse.

We feel that it should be considered that an assessment of need should be carried out by qualified professional(s) independent of the authority.

Decisions, discussion and outcomes should at all stages be explicit, transparent and recorded, so that the complainant and the authority are clear about actions taken and decisions reached, and their compliance with law and statutory guidance.”




During my conversation with Jane Williams today she explained that she had not been advised that her role was that of mediator and that she was not qualified to act in this way and agreed that what was needed was an experienced and appropriately qualified mediator with the ability to facilitate discussions between the LA and the LHB.

This doesn’t seem to be in line with the communication I have had from Edwina Hart which I have quoted below for your perusal.

“I am advised that your MP, Julie Morgan, has now met with elected members and the Council’s Director of Social Services. In that meeting the authority agreed that, if your husband and you were to agree to a continuing healthcare assessment, they would appoint an independent person to the multi-disciplinary team to ensure an impartial and fair evaluation of your husband’s needs and his eligibility for this type of care. This is, I understand, in line with the Stage 3 recommendation in response to the complaint you had made to the authority via its complaints procedure over the way it had handled your husband’s care.

Resolving the issues over your husband’s care will require trust between all parties and this has clearly been tested and damaged over recent months. I have therefore asked to be kept informed of the progress regarding the provision of your husband’s care.”

The assessment date had been set for the 21st April 2008 but it seems unlikely that this will be able to go ahead unless you are able to clarify this misunderstanding to our mutual satisfaction and that of all parties involved.

I look forward to a speedy written response to these concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Siaron West

cc Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Cllr John Dixon, Cardiff County Council
Byron Davies, Chief Executive, Cardiff County Council
Cllr Rodney Berman, Cardiff County Council
Julie Morgan MP, Cardiff North
Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Health & Social Services
Mr John Goodwin, Panel Chair, Independent Complaints Secretariat
Christine Morgan, Cardiff & Vale Coalition of Disabled People
Rosa Curling, Leigh Day & Co Solicitors
Jean Hazelwood, Senior Nurse Assessor Cardiff LHB
Brendon Lloyd, Medical Director Cardiff LHB
Dr David Bailey, Chairman GPC Wales
Ms Neelam Bhardwaja, Corporate Director (Social)