Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions because it is unlikely that we would add anything to the investigation that the Council has already carried out. The council has apologised for one part of the complaint. Additionally, we would not be able to achieve Mr X’s desired outcome by investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council failed to carry out its statutory Children’s social care duties in relation to a concern for welfare relating to his child. Mr X states that his family had to leave the country as a result. Mr X states that social services should face criminal charges.

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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
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or

(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’s Children’s social care services received a referral about a concern for welfare relating to Mr X’s child (Y).
6. Based upon new information, the Council subsequently ended their involvement with Mr X’s family.
7. Mr X raised a number of complaints to the Council which responded using the three stage Children’s Statutory Complaints procedure. The Council provided three complaint responses, including an independent investigation and a review panel which Mr X attended.
8. The independent investigation found that Mr X had not been sent the minutes of a meeting which he was unable to attend. The Council said that it provided a copy of the minutes to Mr X with an apology.
9. Further investigation of Mr X’s complaints by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to the Council’s responses. The Council’s responses to Mr X’s complaints under all three stages of the statutory process were detailed and thorough and shows it considered Mr X’s complaints at all stages. The stage two report shows it considered the relevant evidence. Therefore, Mr X has already had an independent investigation, and we will not investigate.
10. Mr X has stated that social services should face criminal charges. This is not something we can achieve for him.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is unlikely that we would be able to add to the investigation that the Council has carried out. Additionally, an investigation would not achieve Mr X’s desired outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman