- Submitted
- Acknowledged
- LATE No Stage One Response
Background
Equipment Maintenance & Compliance Breakdown
In , the
Sara Plus Hoist (a standing hoist where the user actively stands during use) was due for its required six-month service
This safety inspection did not take place. The equipment had last been serviced in
Due to the missed inspection in , the equipment was left in direct violation of the
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
Consequently, on the care provider sent notification stating they would cease using the
hoist due to liability concerns
For further context on administrative issues, refer to the external analysis at
NRS Bankruptcy Aspect
and
Hoist Repair.
Council Intervention and New Care Assessment
On , a meeting was held at the resident's flat with Haringey Council's Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, and Care Coordinator. The resident was informed that resolving the standing hoist issues could take weeks. When concerns were raised regarding basic independent functions like toileting while bedbound, the temporary solution offered lacked consideration for personal dignity.
To establish an interim solution, a New Care Assessment was initiated to transition to an alternative care setup. This required switching to a Track Hoist, which had been installed in but left entirely unused.
Comparative Care Analysis: Sara Plus vs. Track Hoist
Operating the Track Hoist compared to the Sara Plus introduces fundamental changes to daily care operations.
Crucially, the Track Hoist requires a minimum of two care professionals to operate safely.
As a direct consequence of this logistical requirement, the necessary care budget immediately doubled.
Assessment / Meeting Outcome
Since the extremely unproductive meeting NOTHING has been done, no update has been given despite multiple requests.
-
Private Resolution:
I independently contacted the equipment manufacturer directly and successfully arranged a same-day emergency
service within an hour, taking less than 10 minutes to coordinate. - Local Authority Status: No formal action or follow-up was completed by the council following the meeting.
Question
The above was submitted
The date in the document of was the date I started writing the Letter.
This was the culmination of a series of idiotic events. I had been blocked at every
turn by Haringey Council to find a
solution to the Sara Hoist. My last ditch attempt was
requesting a New Care Assessment.
Technically each year I undergo a Financial Care Assessment, this evaluates my financial position and sets the amount I contribute to my care.
A care Assessment focuses on the provision of the care. In the 14 odd years I’ve been receiving Home Care, my Care Assessment hasn’t
really changed. I’ve always had 4 calls a day. I’ve always used my Sara Plus Hoist.
I do not actually recall when the last one was done. I’m working with a theory it was about the time I moved to Haringey so 2016-09-01.
Deep Dive - Advocate
While normal Adult Social Care (ASC) Complaints in Haringey don’t qualify for an advocate, Care Assessments are an exception.
It's noteworthy that so far this request has been ignored.
Response
She is however unfortunately still my ward councillor
He has absolutely no experience of Adult Social Care.
I do not believe she has any experience in Adult Social Care, as such probably has a bad understanding of the entire scope of ASC.
Given this and the entire case I’m left with the conclusion it is deliberate.
Advocate
this type of complaint, however, is the exception. Independent Care Act Advocate (ICAA)
An Advocate was requested in the Complaint Submission of As of this request has been ignored.
LGSCO
It’s extremely unlikely the LGSCO will investigate this aspect of the complaint.
Complaints COM_8499 () & COM_9683 ()
are related to the Sara Plus Hoist.
The Final Response for each complaint, does not in any way relate to the request for a Care Assessment
The coup de grâce... The Care Assessment was raised AFTER the final Response for COM_8499 & COM_9683 were received
Outcome
This scenario offers the least amount of faff. Using the Sara Plus Hoist is essentially what I've been doing for about 15 years. To continue using the Sara Plus Hoist
- Negotiate and reactivate the formal service agreement with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). This ensures priority technical support, certified parts sourcing, and compliance with safety standards.
- Establish a formal agreement detailing the anticipated life expectancy of current assets. This document will serve as a strategic roadmap for scheduled decommissioning and capital expenditure (CAPEX) planning for future replacements.
To swap to using the Track hoist, the following need to be done/agreed. The following is a dealbreaker. If a suitable commode can't be sourced the entire concept won't work
- A commode that’s suitable for me to use needs to be sourced. This commode would have to work with my Closomat toilet.
- My 4 care calls a day would be extended to a minimum of 2 hours. The Track Hoist is a completely different type of care. I've not used any other type of hoist other than my Sara Plus Standing hoist in 14 years.
Q&A
They went bankrupt so the scheduled service of the Sara Plus standing hoist did not take place
None. They have never actually informed Service Users of the bankruptcy or how the service would be maintained.
Very little. The changes don’t actually make a difference or logical sense.
The only change Haringey Council made (without informing me) was to increase the care time to 60 minutes at my 4 care calls a day.
This single change has no beneficial outcome. I still can’t use the Track Hoist and hilariously increase the cost the council pays.
The illogical bureaucratic nonsense comes in when Haringey Council swear blue-blind they are trying to Resolve the Sara Plus Hoist.
So changing the care package (even wrongly) was unnecessary
Again complex would be an understatement.
A few Events are directly complicit in this farce. NRS Bankruptcy companies going bankrupt is not new.
Ultimately it was the choice of LGSCO who declined to investigate COM_9683 had they investigated it
possible the lack of maintenance may have been discovered.
Jo Baty, while not directly involved with my care. As the Adult Social Care (ASC) Director she is ultimately responsible for the incredibly bad service from .
Haringey Council have faced major criticism
We found a culture of apathy underpinned the issues in the London Borough of Haringey. There is a distinct lack of ownership, accountability, and intrinsic motivation when handling complaints.