Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that Council officers made a referral to social services about her children. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains Council officers made a referral to social services about her children without justification. She says this has caused her distress and reputational damage.
2. Ms X is seeking a review of the Council’s procedures.

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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. Ms X says the Council made a referral to social services without genuine reasons. She says the referral was made because she was in a dispute with the Council about housing matters.
7. The Council says the referral was made as officers became aware Ms X’s children were unsupervised when the family were evicted.
8. On consideration of the Council’s notes, I have not seen any evidence the Council’s referral was motivated by anything other than a concern that children were home alone at the time of the eviction.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman