Summary: We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint about a child and family (CAF) assessment because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms M complains about a child and family (CAF) assessment completed in February 2025. She says the assessment contains “numerous inaccuracies, distortions and selective omissions of information and concerns” as a result of which she believes, “existing and future needs and risks have not been identified and […] my daughter is at risk of harm, now and in the future, especially cumulatively.”

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

(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 Ms M.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms M is the primary carer for her daughter, G. G has contact with her father as set out in a Child Arrangements Order. Ms M and G’s father both made referrals to children’s services over the Christmas period in 2024. Ms M provided me with a detailed account of her concerns. I shall not include the details here to ensure her anonymity.
6. The Council undertook a child and family (CAF) assessment. Ms M is unhappy with the assessment which she says fails to adequately record her concerns. She complained to the Council. The Council responded to Ms M’s complaint and her concerns. The Council did not uphold Ms M’s complaint. Unhappy with the Council’s response, Ms M complained to us.
7. I have carefully considered Ms M’s complaint. It is clear Ms M disagrees with the social worker who completed the assessment. However, this does not mean the assessment was wrong. We cannot question the social worker’s views unless there was fault in the way the assessment was conducted. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation. There is nothing I could add to the Council’s response. Our involvement would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman