Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about comments made by a Council officer during a Review Child Protection Conference. This is because the Council apologised for any distress caused, and an investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the conduct of a Council officer during a Review Child Protection Conference.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him distress and frustration.

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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:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, 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

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about comments made by a Council officer during a Review Child Protection Conference.
7. This is because in its complaint response the Council explained it was not the officer’s intention to cause distress and apologised for any upset Mr X experienced.
8. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome. Therefore, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman