London Borough of Brent (24 007 642)
Category : Children's care services > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Oct 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council wrongly closed a file regarding her ex-partner. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to warrant our further involvement.
The complaint
- Ms X said the Council closed a case against her ex-partner after he threatened a social worker.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X provided a copy of a child and family assessment the Council carried out. This was detailed and considered issues raised regarding her two teenage children after a referral from their school. The assessment was thorough and reached a view consistent with the evidence seen and heard during visits to the family home, where the children were living with their father after a separation from Ms X. This was that there were concerns, but that action was not required in respect of either parent. The Council told Ms X in a final response in June 2024 it had no current concerns regarding the care of the children, but that it would consider any further safeguarding concerns raised in future. Ms X would be welcome to return to us if, having raised any new matters since June 2024 and exhausted the Council’s complaints procedure, she remains dissatisfied.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council; to warrant or further involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman