Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with his child. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council were unjustified when it tried to obtain a child protection order. He said there had been delays in how his case had been managed by children’s services. Mr X said this had caused tension between him and social services. He would like the Council to apologise and drop their case.

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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 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 Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained the Council were unjustified when it took steps to obtain a child protection order.
6. In its complaint response, the Council apologised to Mr X that meetings with children’s services had been cancelled at short notice. It also apologised for communication issues about the date of a child protection meeting.
7. Mr X complained that children’s services staff had visited him unannounced. In its complaint response, the Council confirmed there had been scheduling issues regarding visits, and that some visits could take place unannounced.
8. The Council apologised that letters sent to Mr X contained inaccurate information, and meeting minutes had not been shared with him. The Council confirmed that corrected letters and meeting minutes had since been shared with Mr X.
9. In response to enquiries, the Council confirmed it had now agreed to close the case to children’s services.
10. We will not investigate this complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. The council considered Mr X’s complaint, reviewed relevant evidence and set out reasons for its decision. It also apologised to Mr X, addressed any shortcomings and accepted errors.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman