Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Mr X. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council launched child protection enquiries unnecessarily and did not follow the correct procedures.

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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.

(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 launched child protection enquiries unnecessarily and showed little understanding for his medical condition when it was investigating whether he posed a risk to children. He also complained Council social workers did not follow the correct procedure.
6. The Council investigated and partially upheld some of Mr X’s complaint points. The Council recommended training and communications to be sent out to ensure these points were addressed.
7. Mr X remains unhappy with the Council’s actions and wants us to find the Council at fault. The Council has investigated the events that took place and based its findings on the evidence available. Where it has identified fault, it has made recommendations proportionate to what happened. This is what we would expect the Council to do. An investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman