Medical assessments for housing applications: Guide for Practitioners

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has published a practitioner's guide for officers who make decisions on people’s housing needs based on medical assessments.

One of the key lessons highlighted in the guide is for councils to properly evidence that they have made their own decisions on medical needs and not automatically accepted the views of independent medical advisers.

Other lessons include ensuring they consider all the evidence when making decisions, addressing all the issues raised, and not delaying carrying out medical assessments or reviews.