Summary: We will not investigate this complaint concerning a direct payments contingency fund. This is because the complainant has confirmed the Council has resolved her complaint by adding to her care provision so we could not add anything more.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about the Council restricting her direct payments contingency fund to eight weeks’ worth of care payments despite her care plan specifying twelve weeks.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. 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
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organization

(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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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she has confirmed the Council has resolved the complaint by adding to her care provision.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman