Summary: Ms Y complains about the Council’s assessment of her care and support needs and how much it says she should pay for her care. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council has not yet completed the assessments.

The complaint

1. Ms Y complains about the Council’s assessment of her care and support needs and how much it says she should pay for her care. Ms Y says that this is causing her financial hardship and is not meeting her support needs.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We can decide whether to start or discontinue an investigation into a complaint within our jurisdiction. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the complaint and the documents provided by the Council. I have written to Ms Y with my draft decision and given her an opportunity to comment.

Back to top

What I found

4. Ms Y has care and support needs and previously received direct payments to pay for her care. The Council said that Ms Y must contribute towards the cost of her care and support by an amount she says she could not afford. Ms Y cancelled her care because she said she could not afford it.
5. The Council is in the process of re-assessing Ms Y’s care and support needs and is carrying out a new financial assessment.
6. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint before the Council has completed the assessments. If Ms Y remains dissatisfied once the care plan and financial assessment are complete, it is open to her to bring a complaint to us then.

Back to top

Final decision

7. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the Council has not yet completed the assessments.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman