Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of a safeguarding concern Mrs X raised. This is because we would be unlikely to provide a different outcome for her.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained that when she contacted a Council social worker to raise a safeguarding concern, they informed her they would not keep her disclosure anonymous.
2. Mrs X said this has caused her distress and upset.

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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:

• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(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 Mrs X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mrs X contacted a Council social worker because of concerns a child was seen playing unattended with another child known for exhibiting inappropriate behaviour.
7. Mrs X says the Council social worker told her that she would have to reveal the source of this information to the child’s carer. Mrs X complained to the Council because she was not happy with this.
8. The Council investigated and spoke to the social worker involved. The social worker’s version of events was different to Mrs Xs’. The social worker said she did not reveal Mrs X as the source behind the safeguarding concern.
9. The Council apologised and conceded that there could have been greater clarity regarding the information Mrs X was given about the disclosure. The Council also confirmed it had spoken to the social worker about how to properly manage safeguarding reports.
10. Mrs X remains unhappy with the situation and wants us to find the Council at fault. There is no evidence of the information the social worker gave Mrs X however the Council has confirmed that Mrs X’s identity was not disclosed to other party involved. The Council has also spoken to the social worker and reminded them of how to deal with matters like this appropriately. These were reasonable actions for the Council to take and in line with the approach the Ombudsman would recommend.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because we would be unlikely to provide a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman