on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
Category : Children's care services > Child protection Decision : Closed after initial enquiries Decision date : 17 Mar 2026 The complaint
My assessment
Final decision
The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with Miss X because there is not enough evidence of fault.
The complaint
Miss X complains the Council failed to provide her with financial support to look after Mr Y as agreed and refused to reimburse her for property damage caused by Mr Y.
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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)) We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Miss X.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council considered Miss X’s complaint under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. I note Miss X is unhappy with the outcome of her complaint. However, unless we identify fault in how the Council carried out the stage two investigation or stage three panel, we will not reinvestigate the substantive matters.
The stage 2 investigation found the Council was not clear on when financial support would end; however, it did not find support should have continued. The stage 3 review panel upheld this outcome. Miss X disagrees with this outcome, but there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by us.
The stage 2 investigation found it was not possible to establish a direct causal link or liability between the Council’s duties or actions and any damage to property caused by Mr Y. The stage 3 review panel upheld this outcome. Miss X disagrees with this outcome, but there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by us.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman