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Care liberty assessments, Tinder for cows, Failed energy suppliers.

The council investigated for keeping vulnerable people under restrictive supervision. The new Tinder-like app for cows.
More woes from customers of failed energy suppliers.

We report on the findings of an investigation into a council accused of keeping thousands of vulnerable people under constant and restrictive supervision without carrying out proper, legal assessments. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman says Staffordshire County Council wrongly stopped carrying out assessments for people deemed to be of 'low' or 'medium risk'. The Ombudsman ruling says the council created its own guidance for ranking requests for assessments known as Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which are there to provide legal protection for people in care who don't have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. We speak to Nigel Ellis, Chief Executive of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and Alan White, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council.

Our reporter Bob Walker looks at a new dating app that's proving a bit hit within the farming industry. It's called Tudder and just like on Tinder you swipe left or right depending on your preference. But, rather surprisingly it's not aimed at lonely farmers. Instead, it's there to help them find the right mate for their cattle. We visit the owners of a farm in Lincolnshire who use the app and also speak to Doug Bairner, the Chief Executive of Hectare, an online market place for farmers.

We investigate more complaints from customers of failed energy firms who've been moved to new suppliers by the regulator, Ofgem. Under the regulator's rules, the new company has to guarantee customers' energy supply and also pay back any credit balances built up with their old supplier. We speak to customers who've had difficulties getting money back. We also hear from Audrey Gallacher of Energy UK.

Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Tara Holmes

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40 minutes

Broadcast

  • Mon 8 Apr 2019 12:18

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