Cheshire West & Chester Council (24 005 521)
Category : Children's care services > Child protection
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Oct 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the conduct of a child protection conference, where the complainants say inaccurate information was provided by the police. This is because we have no jurisdiction to investigate the actions of the police and there is insufficient evidence of fault with how the Council dealt with a complaint about the conduct of the conference.
The complaint
- Mr X and Miss Y complain about how a child protection conference was held. They say that inaccurate information was allowed to be discussed due to a lack of oversight during the meeting.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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))
- We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the police. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- I cannot investigate Mr X and Miss Y’s complaint that inaccurate information was provided by the police during the child protection case conference. This is because we have no jurisdiction to investigate the actions of the police.
- Mr X and Miss Y Ms X made a complaint about the conduct and outcome of the ICPC. The Council investigated this complaint under the London child protection procedures and found no fault. There is no evidence to suggest the child protection procedures complaints process was not followed. The Council provided Mr X and Miss Y with a thorough investigation and response.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X and Miss Y’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault and we cannot investigate the actions of the police.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman