Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint, about the Council withdrawing funding for care Mr Y without notice. This is because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council withdrew funding for care for his father, Mr Y without notice, causing distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

2. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
3. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. The Council funded a sitting service for Mr Y while he was living at home. Mr Y moved into a care home for a short period. However, Mr X confirmed with the Council it would continue funding the sitting service once he moved back home.
5. Mr Y moved back home however the Council then told Mr X it had suspended funding for care. A few days later Mr X found this was incorrect and payment was received.
6. The Council apologised for providing inaccurate information, confirmed payment was not suspended and that it would identify any learning from Mr X’s complaint.
7. Mr X says he suffered distress due receiving the incorrect information and is concerned about what could have happened. However, the injustice suffered is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman