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Northumberland Council (202014130)

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REPORT

COMPLAINT 202014130

Northumberland Council

5 August 2021


Our approach

What we can and cannot consider is called the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and is governed by the Housing Ombudsman Scheme. The Ombudsman must determine whether a complaint comes within their jurisdiction. The Ombudsman seeks to resolve disputes wherever possible but cannot investigate complaints that fall outside of this. 

In deciding whether a complaint falls within their jurisdiction, the Ombudsman will carefully consider all the evidence provided by the parties and the circumstances of the case.

The complaint

  1. The complaint concerns the resident’s application for housing, including a separate application for his son.

Determination (jurisdictional decision)

  1. When a complaint is brought to the Ombudsman, we must consider all the circumstances of the case as there are sometimes reasons why a complaint will not be investigated.
  2. After carefully considering all the evidence, I have determined that the complaint, as set out above, is not within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Summary of events

  1. The resident raised a formal complaint to the council concerning its handling of his application for housing, and his son’s separate application for housing. In addition, concerns were raised regarding Adult Social Care. This service has not seen a copy of the original complaint raised to the council but has been provided with copies of its responses at Stage 1 and 2 of its complaint process.
  2. The final response to the complaint which was issued on 26 May. In brief, it explained that as the resident had purchased their property this had affected his banding position. It also explained that any housing application for the residents son would need to be done via Adult Social Care. It did not uphold the complaint and referred the resident to this service.

Reasons

  1. Paragraph 39 (m) of the Scheme states that: The Ombudsman will not investigate complaints which, in the Ombudsman’s opinion: fall properly within the jurisdiction of another Ombudsman, regulator, or complaints-handling body;
  2. The complaint concerns the council’s assessment of the resident’s application for housing, in its capacity as a local authority. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the appropriate body to consider complaints about such issues including Adult Social Care. Accordingly, the complaint is not within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to consider in line with paragraph 39 (m) of the Scheme, as it falls within the jurisdiction of the LGSCO.
  3. Details for the LGSCO are as follows:

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

Tel: 0300 061 0614

https://www.lgo.org.uk/contact-us