Reading Borough Council (25 017 479)
Category : Children's care services > Child protection
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council social worker failing to include Mr X in plans for a child protection visit. This is because there is insufficient injustice to warrant an investigation.
The complaint
- Mr X complained a social worker failed to contact him to make him aware of a child protection visit taking place. He said the social worker also failed to share meeting minutes following the visit.
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained a Council social worker attended a child protection visit at his home without contacting him. He said he found out about the visit from his partner and when he asked for the meeting minutes to be shared, the social worker failed to provide them or return his calls. He also said the Council told him the visit was unannounced when it wasn’t.
- The Council told Mr X it was not necessary to contact him for the visit nor was it necessary to share the meeting minutes. The Council advised Mr X would be given the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions he had about the visit at an upcoming meeting.
- Mr X wants us to find the Council at fault. The Council has explained Mr X will have the opportunity to discuss the visit and raise any issues he may have. There is no evidence Mr X was put to significant injustice due to this matter.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient injustice to warrant investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman