City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (21 003 890)
Category : Adult care services > Disabled facilities grants
Decision : Not upheld
Decision date : 29 Jul 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: Mr X’s complaint about how the Council was dealing with adaptions to his home has been resolved. The complaint will be discontinued.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the way the Council is dealing with adaptations to his home.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. If there has been fault which has caused an injustice, we may suggest a remedy. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26(1) and 26A(1), as amended)
- If we are satisfied with a council’s actions or proposed actions, we can complete our investigation and issue a decision statement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 30(1B) and 34H(i), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information submitted by Mr X, and the Council’s response.
What I found
- Mr X had an external ramp fitted in 2002 under a Disabled facilities Grant; it met the required building regulations at the time.
- In 2021 the Council completed a further assessment for a ceiling hoist. During assessment the occupational therapist noted the external ramp fitted previously was no longer safe.
- The Council told Mr X he could only have the ceiling hoist if he also agrees to a step-lift.
- Mr X does not want a step-lift because if it breaks down he will be unable to leave the house. He wants a guaranteed access point so he can maintain independence.
- Mr X contacted the Ombudsman on 29 July 2021 to say the matter has been resolved and he no longer wishes to pursue his complaint.
Final decision
- The matters Mr X complained about have been resolved. The investigation will be discontinued.
- It is on this basis; the complaint will be closed.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman