Suffolk County Council (26 000 697)
Category : Adult care services > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 31 May 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s records being inaccurate. This is because there is another body better placed to consider her concerns.
The complaint
- Mrs X complained the Council recorded inaccurate data about her in relation to her role as a Lasting Power of Attorney for a person who used its services. Mrs X said the matter caused her distress. She wants the Council 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 Mrs X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because we consider the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the more appropriate body to consider concerns about the Council’s handling of the data in question. It would be reasonable for Mrs X to take her complaint to the ICO, which is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing compliance with data protection legislation.
- The ICO has specialist expertise and powers to investigate whether an organisation has handled personal information in accordance with data protection law. It can consider concerns about issues such as accuracy of data. Where appropriate, the ICO can require organisations to take steps to improve their data handling practices and comply with their legal obligations.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is another body better placed to consider her concerns.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman