North Lincolnshire Council (25 017 211)
Category : Children's care services > Child protection
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 27 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s care of her family members. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council considered her concerns and we cannot investigate matters the Court has considered.
The complaint
- Miss X complains about how the Council considered concerns she raised about the care of two family members. She also complains about contact and the content of a court statement.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
- We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X complained about the care of two family members. The Council considered the issues Miss X raised and spoke to the children and the carers. It also spoke with the school and made a referral to an advocacy service for the children.
- I have considered the steps the Council took to consider the issues raised by Miss X, and the information it used when deciding what action to take. The Council followed the appropriate steps, and I cannot therefore criticise it.
- Miss X complains about the content of the Council’s report for court and about court ordered contact. The Ombudsman cannot investigate matters the court has considered.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council considered her concerns and we cannot investigate matters the court has considered.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman