Swindon Borough Council (25 021 932)
Category : Children's care services > Child protection
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 01 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her children. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.
The complaint
- Miss X complains about the Council’s children’s services involvement after she was admitted to hospital. She says the Council did not consider her concerns about her children being cared for by their other parent. Miss X also complains the Council ignored her requests for a new social worker.
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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- After Miss X was admitted to hospital her younger children went to stay with their father and his family.
- Children’s services began Section 47 enquiries following a police referral and strategy discussion.
- Miss X complained to the Council. She said her children were not being well looked after by their father and she requested a new social worker.
- Within 8 days of receiving Miss X’s complaint, the Council met with Miss X to discuss her concerns and told her that her children would have a new social worker.
- The case notes document Miss X’s concerns about her children being cared for by their other parent. The case notes also indicate that concerns had been investigated where appropriate.
- I will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her children. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her children. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman