Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (25 022 740)
Category : Adult care services > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 20 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council failing to provide him with records and the Council’s records containing false and inaccurate information. This is because it would be reasonable for Mr X to take his complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The complaint
- Mr X complained the Council failed to provide him with a copy of all his carer assessments. He also complained some of the Council’s records about him were false and inaccurate. Mr X said the matter affected his housing situation. He wants the Council to provide him with the requested information and to correct its records.
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 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 Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X asked the Council for a copy of carer assessments which took place over approximately 15 years. He said the Council only gave him a copy of two assessments. He said the Council could not explain where the remainder of the assessments were. Mr X also said the Council’s records contained false and inaccurate information about him.
- As Mr X complains about missing records and false and inaccurate data, it would be reasonable for him to take his complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is an independent authority which specialises in concerns in relation to data which includes misplaced or lost documents and false and inaccurate data. We will therefore not investigate Mr X’s complaint.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint as there is a better body placed to consider his concerns.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman