Summary: We will not investigate Ms Q’s complaint about the care and support the Council gave her brother. This is because Ms Q is not a suitable representative to pursue the complaint.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I have called Ms Q, complained about the London Borough of Bexley’s failure to give care and support to her brother before he died.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We may investigate a complaint on behalf of someone who has died or who cannot authorise someone to act for them. The complaint may be made by:

• their personal representative (if they have one), or
• someone we consider to be suitable.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 26A(2), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the information Ms Q provided. I considered the information the Council provided.

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What I found

4. Ms Q complained about the care and support the Council gave her brother before he died. As she is not authorised to act on his behalf, we do not consider her to be a suitable representative to pursue the complaint. We will not investigate the complaint for this reason.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate this complaint because Ms Q is not a suitable representative.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman