Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 014 015)
Category : Children's care services > Looked after children
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 27 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about backdated allowances for looking after a child. This is because there is not enough evidence of unremedied injustice to warrant investigation.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mrs X, says the Council did not pay the appropriate allowance for her to look after a child between March 2021 and December 2022.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mrs X says the Council failed to pay the appropriate allowance for a child in her care between March 2021 and December 2022, causing her family financial hardship and distress.
- During a meeting between Mrs X and the Council in May 2023, Mrs X says it was agreed the backdated allowance would be paid. At the point at which she complained to the Ombudsman, she was yet to receive this.
- Since Mrs X’s complaint to the Ombudsman, the Council has paid the backdated allowance. Therefore, there is not enough evidence of unremedied injustice to justify an investigation.
- Mrs X has raised other complaints with the Ombudsman. However, we have not seen evidence these complaints have been put to the Council for consideration and completed its complaint procedure. The Ombudsman will therefore not consider those matters. Should Mrs X wish these matters to be considered, she should complain to the Council in the first instance.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of unremedied injustice to warrant our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman