Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Social Worker who was involved in child protection proceedings. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about Children’s Social Care involvement with his family during 2018 and 2019. He said the Social Worker who completed the child protection reports and case conferences was employed by his ex-partner. He said because of this the Council presented incorrect information in the child protection meetings and did not recognise he was a victim of domestic abuse. He wants the Council to recognise its fault and pay him compensation.

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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 not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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. We have previously considered how the Council worked with Mr X under child protection arrangements. Therefore, we will not consider his complaints about this further.
6. We will also not investigate Mr X’s complaint the child protection Social Worker was employed by his ex-partner. The Council has confirmed only social workers employed by it could complete child protection visits. It explained it did use agency workers to complete statutory functions on its behalf; however, this was completed through a contract with the social work agency.
7. It was not possible for Mr X’s ex-partner to recruit the Social Worker to complete the assessment on behalf of the Council. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman