Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the actions of a social worker and how the Council is meeting his care and support needs. It is unlikely an investigation would lead to a different outcome or achieve anything more.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the actions of a social worker and that the Council is not providing care and support to meet his needs.

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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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome or achieve anything more. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained a social worker was rude to him during a telephone call. We will not investigate this. The call was several months ago and so it is unlikely there would be sufficient evidence to reach a finding on this point or that investigation would achieve a worthwhile outcome.
6. The Council has told us it is currently working with Mr X to ensure his care and support needs are met. It is holding regular multi-professional meetings to discuss his care needs and to ensure he is receiving sufficient support. At the recent meeting, it confirmed it had put in place a new care provider and arranged for Mr X to have additional support regarding his housing needs and benefits and to increase his social contacts. It agreed to hold a further multi-professional meeting to review his care and support in a month’s time.
7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council appears to be acting to meet his care and support needs and liaising with other agencies and professionals as appropriate. It is unlikely an investigation by us would lead to a different outcome or achieve anything more.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is unlikely an investigation by us would lead to a different outcome or achieve anything more.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman