Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled his safeguarding concerns about his son. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not properly consider the safeguarding concerns he raised about his son. He says this caused him stress and frustration and that he felt undermined and dismissed.

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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. Mr X made a safeguarding referral about the care of his son while he was with his maternal grandmother. The Council assessed his referral and decided to do a Child and Family Assessment. A social worker considered the case history and spoke to the child while he was in the care of each parent. The social worker also spoke with the maternal grandmother and with professionals.
6. The Social Worker completed the Child and Family Assessment and decided there were no safeguarding concerns for the child. The assessment said the allegations Mr X put forward were unsubstantiated. The assessment highlighted some of Mr X’s behaviour was inappropriate.
7. The Council followed the safeguarding process correctly. We are not an appeal body and will not question a decision where the Council has followed the process correctly even if a complainant disagrees with that decision. There is no evidence of fault in how the Council decided the concerns were unsubstantiated. The Council has a duty to consider all information relevant to the child’s safety and it has done this.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman