Summary: Miss X complains the Council has not properly assessed her needs. We have not investigated because the Council has offered Miss X a fresh assessment and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council has not properly assessed her needs.
2. Miss X says this means she cannot properly use her kitchen.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. It is our decision whether to start, and when to end an investigation into something the law allows us to investigate. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)
4. 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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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What I have and have not investigated

5. Miss X complains the Council did not properly assess her needs for her home adaption application. Miss X told the Ombudsman she wants the Council to complete a fresh assessment. The Council has offered Miss X a fresh assessment and so further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Decision

6. I have ended my investigation and do not uphold Miss X’s complaint. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman