Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with X’s family. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome that X is seeking.

The complaint

1. X complains about the actions of a social worker during child protection enquiries. X would like the Council to allocate their family with a new social worker.

Back to top

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 we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

5. I will not investigate X’s complaint because we cannot achieve the outcome they are seeking. It is for the Council and not the Ombudsman to decide which social workers are allocated to which case.

Back to top

Final decision

6. We will not investigate X’s complaint because we cannot achieve the outcome X is seeking.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman