Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to engage with his school Trust regarding child safeguarding matters. The law says the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints made by or on behalf of a public body.

The complaint

1. Mr X is a staff member of a school trust. Mr X complained the Council failed to properly engage with a school in the school Trust in relation to child protection matters.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X’s complaints centre around the Council’s communication with a school in Mr X’s school Trust. The law says we cannot investigate this type of complaint as explained in paragraph three above.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint was made on behalf of a public body, and the law says we cannot investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman