Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Mr X when he was fostering his relatives. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a worthwhile outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council displayed unprofessional behaviour when he was fostering his relatives before they were removed from his care.

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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:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, 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 Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X began fostering his relatives shortly after they were placed in care. Mr X says the working relationship between him and the Council was initially good before he began to experience difficulties contacting his assigned social workers, received delayed or no responses to emails he sent and a number of other issues.
6. The courts eventually decided to place his relatives with another foster carer and Mr X complained to the Council regarding the above as well as his unhappiness with the decision to move his relatives and the way it was handled.
7. The Council investigated his complaint and explained the decision to relocate his relatives was made by the court. The Council also highlighted that Mr X was given the opportunity to state his views during court proceedings. The Council explained various actions it had taken and whilst the social worker Mr X had complained about no longer worked for the Council, it apologised for the impact some of their decisions had on Mr X.
8. Mr X remains unhappy with the Council’s response and wants us to find the Council at fault. The evidence shows the Council has investigated Mr X’s complaint points and provided a clear and detailed response. Much of this complaint relates to the court’s decision which we do not have jurisdiction to investigate and a social worker who no longer works for the Council. The remaining complaint points have already been addressed by the Council and do not represent significant fault or injustice. Having reviewed Mr X’s complaint and the Council’s response I am therefore not satisfied an investigation would lead to a worthwhile outcome.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a worthwhile outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman