Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about establishing contact with his mother, about whom he raised safeguarding concerns. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and an investigation by the Ombudsman would not add any further meaningful outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to help him establish contact with his mother.
2. He said this meant he has been unable to contact his mother. He wanted the Council to find out where his mother is and allow him to speak directly with her.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation.

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

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained the Council failed to assist him in locating and establishing contact with his mother. He raised safeguarding concerns about her and believed she lived with other family members who were preventing his contact.
7. The Council responded to Mr X’s complaint and confirmed it had checked its records which showed his mother had provided him with an address he could visit her at. It confirmed that Police had also advised Mr X of the same.
8. The Council confirmed further locations which Mr X’s mother is known to attend and advised him he could also visit her at these locations.
9. The Council also provided Mr X information about the steps it had taken to investigate the safeguarding concerns he had raised. It explained it was open to Mr X to seek legal advice to address matters it considered family disputes.
10. We will not investigate this matter as there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify an investigation. In any event, the Council has provided Mr X with the location of his mother, locations she is known to attend, and confirmed that she is happy for Mr X to visit her, so an investigation by the Ombudsman would not add any further meaningful outcome.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council and an investigation by the Ombudsman would not add any further meaningful outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman