Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to fund psychotherapy for Ms X. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision making to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council refused to fund psychotherapy she requested as a preventive measure as she says she is suffering burnout while caring for her children.
2. Ms X said the issue has caused her significant stress and exhaustion. She is seeking a reassessment of her needs as a carer.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X is a parent carer for her two children who have additional needs.
7. The Council carried out a Child and Family needs assessment when Ms X contacted it in 2023. It has carried out reviews since then.
8. The Council’s assessment included conversations with Ms X which explored how she was managing the demands on her.
9. The Council put in place support including personal assistants to enable Ms X to take some breaks from her caring duties. The assessments did not identify a need for psychotherapy.
10. Subsequently, Ms X had an Adult Autism Assessment which noted that she may find psychotherapy helpful.
11. Ms X complained the Council has not funded psychotherapy to help prevent any negative impacts of her caring duties to her children.
12. The Council responded the Child and Family Assessment it carried out did not identify this need, and, psychotherapy can be accessed through the National Health Service. On this basis, it declined to fund the therapy Ms X requested.
13. The Council has made a decision it is entitled to make. It has shown it considered the Adult Autism Assessment, its own Child and Family Assessments, and Ms X’s comments in reaching a view.
14. If Ms X would like the Council to review the Child and Family Assessment, she should request they do this. However, the decision it has made is not one we would substitute with one of our own.

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Final decision

15. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman