Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a drug and alcohol support project working with the Council. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is no evidence the project was providing services in connection with personal care support services.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Project 6 drug and alcohol service working with the Council. He says Project 6 kept him on daily supervised medication collection for 6 weeks and then another period of 6 weeks.
2. Mr X says, because of Project 6’s decisions, he suffered mentally and physically daily.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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)
4. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as drug and alcohol charities. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by the complainant.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

My assessment

7. We can investigate complaints about actions by adult social care providers that can be regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Such activities include giving personal care or other practical support in the place where the person lives. This might include complaints about residential accommodation and personal care provided as a condition of treatment for substance misuse, but we cannot investigate complaints about the treatment or therapy itself.
8. As Mr X’s complaint concerns the prescribing of medication, unrelated to any provision of social care support service, we have no power to investigate.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it does not meet the tests on how we decide which complaints to investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman