Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint about information the Council provided in court proceedings for her children. It lies outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction because it is made in relation to matters that have been considered in court.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mrs B, complains about information and documents the Council provided to the court during court proceedings.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered the information Mrs B provided in her complaint. I sent Mrs B a copy of my draft decision and invited her comments on it.

Back to top

What I found

5. Mrs B complains about assessments and reports the Council provided to the court in proceedings relating to her children. Mrs B says the information provided was incorrect.
6. Mrs B also complains a social worker told the judge things which were not true during the court proceedings. Mrs B feels she has been misrepresented.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We cannot investigate this complaint because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from considering complaints about matters that have been considered in court proceedings. We have no discretion to do so.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman