Summary: We will not investigate how a complaint about a report used in court has been investigated. This is because we have no remit to investigate anything in connection to matters decided in court.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the way his complaint has been handled in relation to a report prepared by a social worker for the courts during family law proceedings.
2. In short, he says the complaint investigation was unfair and the court report was biased towards his ex - wife.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. We cannot investigate a complaint about complaint procedures when the substantive matters lies outside jurisdiction. As Mr X’s complaint is concerned with a section 7 report prepared by a social worker for family law proceedings we cannot investigate any aspect of this complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it concerns matters decided at court.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman