Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about enquiries made by the Council’s Local Authority Designated Officer because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained about the Council’s Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) investigation relating to allegations against her.
2. Mrs X said she lost her employment as a result and the matter caused her distress and frustration.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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))

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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. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is a person responsible for managing and overseeing investigations into allegations that somebody who works with children has behaved in a way that may pose a risk to children.
7. Based on the information seen, the LADO made suitable enquiries relating to their role. Although Mrs X feels more should have been done to support her, this is not the role of the LADO. These were matters for Mrs X’s employer at the time.
8. Consequently, we will not instigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman