Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council explained funding arrangements for a Disabled Facilities Grant for her child because there is insufficient evidence of fault. We will not investigate the Council’s calculations relating to funding because the Council accepted it had missed an item from its calculations, apologised, and provided the funding. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve anything further.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide adequate information about discretionary funding available relating to a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for her child.
2. Mrs X said the matter caused distress and frustration.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

Funding information

6. The Council approved a DFG for Mrs X’s child, Y. It developed a plan and offered this to Mrs X under its Mandatory Scheme. However, Mrs X did not agree to all elements of the plan and instead opted for a Self-Managed Scheme.
7. In its complaint response, the Council told Mrs X it had informed her she would be liable for any shortfalls and had provided her with information about this.
8. Although Mrs X said the Council failed to explain about charitable funding available, the Council said it was not aware of any charitable funds in its area relating to this sort of scheme. It was Mrs X’s choice to opt for the Self-Managed Scheme, and she is therefore liable for any shortfalls in the funding arrangements.
9. There is insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council assessed and explained the funding requirements to Mrs X, and therefore we will not investigate this complaint.

Error in funding calculations

10. In its complaint response the Council told Mrs X it reviewed the case file. It noted it had failed to include the cost of a wheelchair ramp in its calculations. It apologised for the error and provided the funding.
11. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve anything further, so we will not investigate this matter.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman