Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the conduct of the Council’s Social Worker following an incident in which Ms X was a victim of abuse. This is because a further investigation would not lead to a different outcome and subsequently, we are unlikely to achieve any worthwhile outcome.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about the Council’s Social Worker and their poor conduct following an incident in which Ms X was a victim of abuse. She said the matter caused her distress. She wants the Council to explain to her why the Social Worker treated her poorly.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. In response to Ms X’s complaint, the Council explained to her it was limited in any actions it could take following an investigation into her concerns as the Social Worker in question and their manager were no longer employed by the Council. It also said it was limited to what it could share about the Social Worker and their manager due to data protection reasons.
6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. This is because considering the Council is limited in what it can do and share, a further investigation from us would not lead to a different outcome. Subsequently, we are unlikely to achieve any worthwhile outcome.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because a further investigation would not lead to a different outcome and subsequently, we are unlikely to achieve any worthwhile outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman