Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaints about the way children services are caring for her child. It is unlikely we could significantly add to the Council’s replies to her.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Miss X, complains about various issues relating to the care of her child. She says the Council has failed to properly reply to her complaints about this.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word 'fault' to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe:
• it is unlikely we could add to any previous investigation by the Council, or
• it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the information Miss X provided with her complaint and the Council’s replies which it provided. Miss X has the opportunity to comment on this draft version.

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What I found

4. In February 2020 the Court ordered that the Council should care for Miss X’s 15 year old child, B. In May/June Miss X complained to the Council about various aspects of its care of B and the contact she had been provided. The Council replied in June, July and October.
5. Miss X’s complained to us about: B’s medication; a verruca; sleeping times; bath times; diet; weight; activity and the contact she had been offered with B.
6. The Council’s three replies cover the points she raised with us and other points too. Miss X says the Council has not processed her complaint in compliance with its complaint procedure. She says she wants B to return to her care.

Analysis

7. We should not investigate Miss X’s complaint because:
1. It is unlikely we could provide any more detail a reply than the Council has already given.
2. We cannot change the Court order, and order B be returned to her care.
3. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures, if we are unable to deal with the substantive issue.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because it is unlikely we could significantly add to the Council’s replies.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman