Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council failing to provide support to her adult son for him to access an online course. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault with the Council.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her adult son, Mr Y, with support to access an online learning course. She said it affected her son’s mental health and caused her distress.

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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 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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Mr Y has neurodevelopmental needs. He is known to the Council and has eligible care and support needs.
6. The Council agreed to fund a music production course for Mr Y to attend. The Course was designed to take place online. Although it agreed to fund the course, it was not in relation to his assessed eligible care and support needs.
7. Mrs X said Mr Y struggled to understand the course. She asked the Council to provide him with a tutor to help him access the course.
8. The Council explored options within the voluntary sector. Unfortunately, after making enquires with a provider, it could not source support. This was because the provider had no specialist person who could provide support with a music production course and the course took place outside of its working hours.
9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is unlikely we would find fault with the Council. The music production course was not arranged to meet Mr Y’s assessed eligible care and support needs. The Council was therefore not required to provide additional support to enable him to access the course. However, the Council considered Mrs X’s request for support and took reasonable steps to explore whether support could be provided.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is unlikely we would find fault with the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman