Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of a Council social worker or Mr X’s concerns regarding meeting minutes recorded by the Council. This is because we would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained that a Council social worker intentionally omitted him from an invitation to a core group meeting. He also complained about the content of minutes recorded at the meeting.

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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:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(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 Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained to the Council regarding a social worker’s failure to invite him to a core group meeting following a child protection conference. He also complained that the Council had failed to respond to his concerns about the content of core group minutes recorded following a meeting.
6. The Council investigated and found that the dates of the core group meetings were discussed with Mr X and sent to him. The Council also found evidence it had offered to discuss the minutes with Mr X and agreed to include Mr X’s disagreement with minutes in the document.
7. Mr X remains unhappy with the matter and wants us to find the Council at fault. The evidence shows the Council made Mr X aware of the core group meeting and has provided Mr X with the opportunity to make his feelings on the recorded minutes. There is therefore no evidence of fault on the Council’s part and consequently there is no personal injustice to remedy.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman