Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint about a Children and Family Assessment because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

The complaint

1. Mr F complains about a Children and Family Assessment undertaken by the Council. He says the assessment is inaccurate and misleading. He says the assessment has caused problems in private family proceedings. He complains about the Council’s response to his complaint.

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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:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(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 F.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council was involved because of concerns for the welfare of Mr F’s children.
6. Mr F complained to the Council about the assessment.
7. The Council does not accept Mr F’s criticism of the assessment. It has offered to correct a mistake Mr F identified and include his views on the children’s file.
8. Unhappy with the Council’s response, and its handling of his complaint, Mr F complained to us.
9. I have carefully considered Mr F’s concerns. I note his disagreement with the assessment. However, further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome. The most we could achieve would be to recommend the Council adds Mr F’s views to the children’s file. The Council has already offered to do this. There is nothing I could add to the Council’s response, and nothing worthwhile I could achieve.
10. If Mr F believes the assessment contains facts which are incorrect, as opposed to opinions he disagrees with, he can use his “right to rectification”. Further information is available from the Information Commissioner's Office.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman