Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about contact from children’s services. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council contacted her to ask if she was in a relationship with her children’s father.

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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 I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Following a safeguarding referral, the Council’s children’s services team contacted Miss X to ask if she was in a relationship with her children’s father.
5. The call caused Miss X distress.
6. The Council say the call was necessary due to concerns about the children’s father.
7. The Council have a responsibility to investigate potential safeguarding concerns. I have not seen enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman