Summary: We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint about the Council’s decision to invite a relative to a family group conference. There is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

The complaint

1. Ms M complained about the Council’s decision to invite a relative to a family group conference. Ms M does not want the relative to have any contact with her daughter. Ms M did not attend the meeting.

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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 must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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 and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council is involved because of concerns for Ms M’s daughter. The Council held a family group conference to bring together family members to discuss the Council’s concerns. Ms M objected to one of the people the Council invited. She made allegations about the individual’s past and lifestyle which she said made the person unsuitable to have any contact with her daughter. In light of the invitation, Ms M decided not to attend the meeting.
6. The meeting has now taken place. Ms M has made her feelings known and they are now a matter of record. It is not for me to say who should and who should not be invited to the meeting. There is nothing I could achieve by investigating the matter further.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman