Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council did not provide floating support with his housing. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council did not provide him floating support despite it saying it would. He said he was looking forward to receiving support. He feels frustrated he will not get it. He wants the Council to provide him with support.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X’s Probation Officer contacted the Council asking for support with Mr X’s housing and mental health needs. Because of concerns around Mr X’s mental health, the Council referred him to the health service’s Single Point of Access (SPA).
6. The Council also spoke to Mr X to understand his difficulties. It assessed him as independent in all areas of daily living. It told him how he could self-refer for counselling support. It agreed to refer him to its floating support service to help with his housing needs.
7. Floating support rejected Mr X’s referral. It said he did not meet the eligibility criteria as he had not lived in the borough for two years. It also said his prison release licence said his Probation Officer was responsible for dealing with his accommodation.
8. Although Mr X is unhappy with that decision we will not investigate. The Council has applied its policy and provided a reason for not exercising discretion to provide floating support to Mr X. It did not delay in making that decision. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
9. In addition, the Council:
• referred Mr X to the health service to provide mental health support,
• provided telephone support as required, and
• agreed to complete an adult social care assessment to assess whether he had any eligible care needs.
10. Therefore, I am satisfied the Council has taken appropriate steps to support Mr X following the referral from his Probation Officer. If Mr X is unhappy with the outcome of his adult social care assessment he would need to make a new complaint to the Council.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman