Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about alleged poor conduct displayed during a child protection meeting. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a worthwhile outcome.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained about the conduct of Council employees attending a child protection 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:

• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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

• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mrs X complained to the Council after a child protection meeting that took place which was attended by her and several other Council employees. She said the employees present exhibited unprofessional conduct when personal details relating to her child and partner were discussed and it made her uncomfortable.
6. The Council apologised to Mrs X but did not uphold her complaint, stating that the employees were demonstrating curiosity rather than unprofessionalism. Mrs X brought her complaint to the Ombudsman.
7. It is not possible to determine exactly why the Council employee’s behaved as they did as neither party has agreed on what took place. Whilst it is clear Mrs X has been left upset by this matter, there is no evidence she has suffered a significant injustice due to the Council’s actions. It is therefore unlikely that an investigation into this matter would lead to anything worthwhile for Mrs X.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because an investigation would be likely to result in a worthwhile outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman