Summary: We will not consider Mrs M’s complaints until the Council has completed the parent carer’s assessment.

The complaint

1. Mrs M complains about her request for a parent carer’s assessment. She has made two complaints. The first was when the Council refused to carry out the assessment. The second was about the draft assessment.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. It is our decision whether to start, and when to end an investigation into something the law allows us to investigate. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mrs M and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

What happened

5. At first, the Council refused Mrs M’s request for a parent carer’s assessment.
6. When Mrs M complained, the Council agreed to carry out an assessment.
7. Things did not go smoothy, and Mrs M made her first complaint to us.
8. By the time I spoke to Mrs M, the Council had begun the assessment. Mrs M was not happy with the way it was going and had made another complaint to the Council.
9. Shortly after we spoke, Mrs M received the Council’s response. The Council agreed to meet with Mrs M to discuss the draft assessment before making a final decision.

What I have decided

10. It is best for the Council to finish the assessment before we consider Mrs M’s complaints.
11. If Mrs M disagrees with the assessment, she can complain again to the Council.
12. If she is unhappy with the outcome and wants us to consider any of her complaints, she can contact us again. We will consider all of Mrs M's complaints together once the Council has finished the assessment.

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Final decision

13. We will not consider Mrs M’s complaints until the Council has completed the parent carer’s assessment.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman