The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council delayed dealing with a complaint about how it safeguarded a child who was in foster care. This is because the Council has now issued its complaint response and has made an appropriate payment to remedy the delay. Therefore, further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will call Miss X, complained to the Council, with the support of her representative, about how the Council safeguarded her since she left foster care. Miss X’s representative asked the Ombudsman to intervene when the Council failed to respond to the complaint.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I will not investigate this complaint. Since complaining to the Ombudsman the Council has responded to Miss X’s complaint informing Miss X how she can progress it further if dissatisfied with its response. The Council offered Miss X a payment of £200 to remedy the time and trouble she had been to and in recognition of the delay. Having considered the Council’s response I consider that it has provided an appropriate remedy for the delay and so further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman