Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a child protection matter and a LADO referral because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about her dealings with the Council in connection with a child protection matter and a referral to the LADO. She says she lost her job as a result of false allegations made by the Council. She is unhappy with the Council’s response to her complaint.

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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 we 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)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. I have carefully considered everything Ms X said, although I have not included every detail here. I have included as few details as possible to protect the anonymity of Ms X and her family.
6. The Council responded to Ms X’s complaints at all three stages of the children’s complaints process. This involved an independent investigation and a review by an independent review panel. Ms X was invited to attend the review panel but chose not to.
7. The independent investigator and review panel did not uphold Ms X’s complaints.
8. Unhappy with the outcome, Ms X complained to us.
9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint as there has already been an independent investigation and review. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by us.

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Final decision

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

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman