Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way Ms C has been treated by the Council. This is because further investigation could not add to the Council’s response or make a different finding of the kind Ms C wants.

The complaint

1. Ms C complained about the way she has been treated by council staff. Ms C says she was bullied and harassed by Council staff who are prejudiced against her. Ms C says she feels isolated because of the way she has been treated by the Council which has resulted in an increase in the dosage of her anti-depressant medication.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 may decide not to start an investigation if 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

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

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My assessment

5. The Council considered Ms C’s complaints and responded to them. It found no evidence to support Ms C’s view that social workers who attended her home in November bullied and harassed her. The staff who attended felt they had treated Ms C with dignity and respect, listened to her and were polite. We were not in the room at the time and could not make a finding on Ms C’s perception that she has been treated badly.
6. Ms C says social workers should be medically trained. The Council explained social workers are registered with an appropriate body but are not required to be medically trained. We could not add to this.
7. Ms C complained she does not receive care and support for her disabilities. The Council says Ms C has been in receipt of a care package since 2020. She receives two calls a day. In addition, Ms C receives support from the Community Mental Health Team. We could not add to this. If Ms C believes she needs more care than she has been assessed as needing she can ask the Council to review her care needs and explain why she feels the support currently in place is not adequate.
8. Ms C complained the Council should have considered death threats she received from her neighbour under its responsibility for safeguarding vulnerable adults. The Council confirmed this was considered under safeguarding, the police were involved who investigated and concluded no further action or investigations were required. We could not add to this.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms C’s complaint because further investigation could not add to the Council’s response or make a different finding of the kind Ms C wants.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman