Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a family assessment as we are unlikely to achieve more than the Council’s complaint process. We will not investigate what might happen in two years’ time.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about a family need’s assessment.

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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:
• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating; or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation; or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
3. We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council’s replies to her.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mrs X had a special guardianship order for Y. Before Y’s 18th birthday she asked for their financial support to continue. Mrs X complained about the assessment for this. The Council replied in 2024 and 2025. It agreed with some of Mrs X’s complaints. It offered to reassess the family. Mrs X says the financial support has now been agreed until Y is 21 but she is worried about what will then happen. Y is 21 in 2028.
7. Special guardianship financial support usually ends at 18. After then the young person can claim the benefits available to all adults. In this case the Council has agreed some extra support. We are unlikely to achieve more.
8. The Council in response to Mrs X’s complaint agreed some of her complaints about the process used. We are unlikely to achieve more.
9. We will not investigate what might happen in two years’ time as this is speculative.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about an assessment as we are unlikely to achieve more. We will not investigate what might happen in two years’ time.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman