Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council did not offer support from children’s social care. This is because further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council did not provide preventative work in relation to child exploitation for her son.

Back to top

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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

4. Mrs X said that despite repeated requests to the Council, her son was not offered any education around child exploitation risks.
5. The Council investigated Mrs X’s concerns through its complaints process. It found that, there had been a delay in securing preventative work around child exploitation
6. The Council identified areas where service could be improved. The Council apologised to Mrs X and offered her a financial remedy in recognition of the distress caused.
7. I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the Council has already offered a suitable remedy, apologised, acknowledged service failings and outlined the learning taken from the complaint. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Back to top

Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because doing so would not lead to a different outcome.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman