The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to answer Mr X’s questions about his daughter’s death. This is because further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council has failed to answer their questions about his daughter’s death while she was in supported living accommodation. He says they have not been given the full truth about her death.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Ombudsman investigates 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 an investigation if we decide further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
In 2018, Mr X’s daughter was found dead in her supported living accommodation, commissioned by the Council.
There have been numerous enquiries carried out to investigate and explore the circumstances leading up to the death, including a Coroner’s inquest and an adult safeguarding review. The Council has also provided an extensive complaint response addressing Mr X’s individual questions.
Due to the length of time that has passed since Mr X’s daughter died, it is very unlikely further investigation by us would lead to different outcomes or findings than that already reached by the previous enquiries.
In addition, we note a Coroner’s inquest has been held into Mr X’s daughter’s death. The purpose of an inquest is to investigate the circumstances surrounding a death and to find out how, when, and where they died. An Ombudsman investigation is not as extensive.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation by us would not lead to different outcomes or findings.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman