Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s response to a safeguarding referral she made regarding a child in its area because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained the Council failed to act on a safeguarding referral she submitted regarding a child in its area. Miss X said the matter caused her uncertainty.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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), section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. We will not investigate this complaint. In its complaint response, the Council explained it had passed the concerns to the relevant social work team for consideration. It also told Miss X that, as she does not have parental responsibility for the child, she is not entitled to any further information.
6. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman