Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an assessment written by a social worker about Mr X’s family. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant our further involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X said a social worker wrote defamatory and slanderous allegations in a report in an attempt to smear his reputation. He said the Council was biased and the claims made were unsubstantiated.

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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 the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council wrote a family assessment due to concerns about Mr X’s children after an incident. The Council spoke to both children alone to gain their views and recorded them in the assessment, which is what is expected. Both children expressed concerns about the family situation and Mr X’s actions. The assessment also included the views of Mr X and his wife. While Mr X disagrees with the content of the assessment, the Council was entitled to reach a view of the family situation.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant our further involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman