Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaint and an assessment carried out by a social worker. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to properly respond to his complaint. He also complained about the assessment carried out by a social worker and information shared without his consent.

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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:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(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. Mr X complained about an assessment carried out by a social worker and information shared without his consent.
6. The Council investigated and partially upheld Mr X’s complaint. He received £500 as a goodwill award from the other party involved in the complaint.
7. Mr X remains unhappy with the Council’s actions and says the Council has failed to properly respond to his complaint. The Council has investigated Mr X’s complaint, apologised, and partially upheld his complaint. This is what we would expect the Council to do; an investigation would be unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman