Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 014 071)
Category : Adult care services > Charging
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 22 Jan 2020
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled its review of his father’s financial assessment to calculate contributions towards care fees. The Council is currently reviewing new information from Mr X. It is reasonable to allow the Council an opportunity to complete the review before the Ombudsman considers Mr X’s complaint.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of his father’s financial assessment for residential care charges. He says the process has been time consuming and stressful.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I have considered comments and information from Mr X and the Council. I have also taken account of the decision on Mr X’s previous related complaint. I sent Mr X a draft of this decision and I considered his comments before reaching a final decision.
What I found
- Mr X complained to the Ombudsman in September 2018 about how the Council dealt with the financial assessment for his father’s contribution towards his care fees.
- In February 2019 we discontinued the investigation because the Council was in the process of reviewing its handling of the complaint and had agreed to consider new information from Mr X.
- Mr X contacted the Ombudsman again in November 2019 asking us to consider the matter again because the Council was in the final stage of the review. Responding to our enquires, the Council confirmed that Mr X provided new information in December 2019 which the Council is still reviewing. The Council says it will respond to Mr X by 31 January.
- In these circumstances, it is reasonable to allow the Council an opportunity to complete its review and issue its response to Mr X. If Mr X remains unhappy with the outcome of the review he can ask the Ombudsman to consider his complaint at that time.
Final decision
- The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because it is reasonable to allow the Council an opportunity to complete its review and respond to Mr X first.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman