Families to get payout over care cash failing

The High Court has ordered a city council to pay out almost £20,000 to two sets of grandparents who both claimed they got no financial support by the authority when their grandchildren were placed in their care.

York Council’s social services department arranged for the two children to move in with their respective grandparents as their parents could not look after them.

When they approached the council for financial support after struggling to pay for the upkeep of the children, both families were advised to apply for funds.

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However the council failed to make an assessment and no money was paid to the either family.

Both sets of grandparents sought legal advice and High Court proceedings were issued against the authority. York Council had to shell out almost £10,000 in backdated support to both families, plus ongoing financial support of £70 per child each week.

One of the child’s grandparents, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, said: “This money will make such a difference to the lives of our children and help prevent them living in poverty.

“These children are already damaged and to be let down by the system in this way is unacceptable. Social services should meet their legal responsibilities.”

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Eoin Rush, assistant director for children’s services at York Council, said the council could not comment on individual cases, but added: “We do make every effort to support children to live within their families where appropriate.”