Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the professional conduct of a social worker. Social Work England is better placed to consider it, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the professional conduct of a social worker allocated to his family.
2. Mr X said their conduct caused stress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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, or
• there is another body better placed to consider this complaint.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

4. We look at organisational fault, not individual professional competence. Decisions about individual’s fitness to practise or work are for the organisations concerned, and for professional regulators, not the Ombudsman. (Local Government Act 1974, s26(1) and s26A(1) as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. Mr X complained about the social worker allocated to his family. Mr X said they were disrespectful and unprofessional.
8. Social Work England (SWE) is the professional regulator of social workers and has powers to investigate their fitness to practice. Any concerns about professional conduct of social workers are better placed with SWE and so we will not investigate.
9. In any case, Mr X seeks a change of social worker as the outcome for his complaint. This outcome is not achievable by the Ombudsman.
10. For these reasons, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because Social Work England is better placed to consider it and we cannot achieve the outcome he seeks.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman