Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council failing to consult with the local community and relevant organisations before it made changes to short-term care options. This is because the personal injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to consult with the local community and relevant organisations before it made changes to the provision of short-term care options for people following their admission to hospitals.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (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 Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the personal injustice arising from the matters complained about is not significant enough to warrant an investigation. Mr X is neither a service user nor acting on behalf of a person who has experienced a direct and personal injustice as a result of how the decision was made. Therefore, we would not be justified in using public resources to investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the personal injustice is not significant to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman