Worcestershire County Council failed to follow up a valid children’s safeguarding referral for seven weeks, the Local Government Ombudsman has found.

The LGO has issued a report into the failing by the council and its complaints handling process, after being contacted by the children’s grandfather.

The man complained that not only had the council not followed up concerns about his grandchildren’s safety, but that when he complained his complaint was stalled.

The LGO found that the council’s failure to follow up the man’s safeguarding referral left the children subject to an unassessed risk after they witnessed a violent incident in their home at the beginning of August 2011.

At the time of the man’s referral, the council agreed that a healthcare worker would visit the family to check on the children. However, by late September 2011 nobody had visited the family or checked on the welfare of the children.

The children’s grandfather subsequently complained to Worcestershire County Council but it took till September 2012 for the council to accept it had been at fault in failing to follow up the man’s concerns, some 13 months after the man first requested an official investigation into his complaint.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman said:

“I am particularly concerned that Worcestershire County Council still maintains its complaint handling process is in line with other local authorities when in fact it breaches statutory guidance. This is why I am calling for the council to review its process to ensure it fully complies with statutory guidance.”

The complainant has already accepted an offer of £250 as a remedy for the difficulties he faced in progressing his complaint.

Worcestershire County Council has been asked to pay an additional £750 made up of £500 for the unnecessary anxiety and delay in following up a valid safeguarding referral and £250 for his time and trouble in having to approach the LGO.

Article date: 17 September 2013