Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled safeguarding concerns. The Council has already looked into the matter and responded appropriately. It has addressed the outcomes Mr X asked for, and further investigation is unlikely to find fault

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to identify and act on the safeguarding concerns he raised about his children’s welfare. He says the Council considered reports in isolation and closed cases prematurely.
2. Mr X says that in January 2023 paramedics attended a serious incident at the children’s home but did not initiate a safeguarding referral.
3. Mr X says that when the Children came to live with him and his wife the Council left the family without support and placed excessive responsibility on them for the children’s care.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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; or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation; or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

5. We cannot investigate most complaints about what happens in schools. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, paragraph 5(2), as amended)
6. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as ambulance services or the police. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

7. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
8. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

9. Mr X has three children. Two live with him and his wife in a different Local Authority area. One child, Y, lives with his mother in Southampton.
10. Mr X said that in January 2023, when all three children lived with their mother, paramedics attended a serious incident but did not make a safeguarding referral to the Council.
11. From May 2023, Mr X said both he and Y’s school raised concerns about Y’s poor attendance, and Children’s Services began an assessment. In June 2023, all three children moved to live with Mr X and his wife. The Council offered to refer the family for support in their new area, but Mr X declined. The Council closed its case in July 2023 following an unsuccessful visit as the children had moved to live with their father. Y returned to live with his mother in late 2023.
12. In January 2024, Mr X raised concerns about neglect and poor school attendance for Y. Children’s Services closed the case after Y’s mother agreed a support plan.
13. In November 2024, Mr X reported further concerns about neglect and attendance. The police visited and found no safeguarding issues. The school agreed to lead a Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting. Children’s Services closed the case, deciding the school was best placed to support Y.
14. In May 2025, Mr X raised new concerns about Y’s welfare. Children’s Services opened a case and started a new assessment.
15. Mr X’s complaint asked the Council to carry out an urgent welfare investigation, confirm what assessments and visits had taken place, explain why safeguarding action hadn’t been taken earlier, and set out a clear plan to protect Y.
16. The Council explained it had allocated a social worker to Y in June 2025 and an assessment is underway. It confirmed it responded to other concerns when they were raised. The Council said it was not responsible for the actions or inaction of other agencies, such as paramedics, police, or the school.
17. The Council offered to refer Mr X for support when the children moved in with him, but he declined. It advised him to contact his own local authority if he needs help with the two children living with him.
18. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled safeguarding concerns. The Council has already looked into these matters and responded appropriately. Further investigation by us is unlikely to achieve anything further.

Final Decision

19. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled safeguarding concerns. There is nothing more we could meaningfully add to the Council’s responses and further investigation is unlikely to find evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman