Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council cancelled a care needs assessment. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to cancel a care needs assessment. He said it did not consider his evidence before responding to his complaint.

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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 was meant to meet the Council for a care needs assessment. Before that meeting, he had a telephone call with the Council. His comments during that call resulted in the Council having concerns about Mr X’s behaviour at the arranged meeting. The Council decided to cancel the meeting. In its complaint response, it offered Mr X a telephone assessment.
6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council. It has set out its reasons for cancelling the meeting with Mr X and offered an alternative way to complete the assessment. It dealt with his complaint without delay. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

7. 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