Dorset Council (23 018 932)
Category : Adult care services > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Apr 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to respond to his request for information regarding what the Council’s process is for handling and closing the files of vulnerable people in care. This is because there is another body better placed to consider the complaint.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council failed to respond to his request for information regarding what the Council’s process is for handling and closing the files of vulnerable people in care.
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 an investigation if we decide: there is another body better placed to consider this complaint. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X’s grandmother is in a care home. Mr X said the Council was previously involved in his grandmother’s case.
- In response to a complaint, the Council told Mr X it was not funding his grandmother’s placement and so her records had been closed.
- Mr X asked the Council to provide information about the Council’s general process for handling and closing of a vulnerable person’s case. He confirmed he was not asking the Council for specific information about his grandmother’s case. Mr X complains the Council refused to provide him with this information.
- As Mr X did not ask the Council for any specific information about his grandmother's case, he has effectively asked the Council to provide information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Any complaint about how the Council dealt with a request under this Act is best considered by the Information Commissioner's Office.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is another body better placed to consider the complaint.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman