Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has not paid the complainant at the same level as a foster carer, with the same skills, who is unrelated to the child they care for. This is because the Council is going to re-assess the complaint.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I refer to as Ms X, complains the Council has not paid her, as a connected foster carer, at the correct rate when compared to a foster carer, with the same skills, who is unrelated to the child they care for.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 an investigation if the Council suggest a fair way of resolving the complaint. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code and spoke to Ms X.

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My assessment

4. Ms X is a foster carer for a child she is related to. She complained to the Council that it was failing to pay her the correct amount as a foster parent. She said the Council should pay the same amount as it pays to another foster carer, with the same skills, who is unrelated to the child. The Council responded to the complaint and signposted Ms X to us. But, it now wants to consider the complaint further, especially in relation to Ms X’s individual circumstances.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate the complaint because the Council will consider the issues further. Ms X can make a new complaint to us if she is still unhappy once the Council has completed its next review of the complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman