The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the content of an assessment and the conduct of the social worker who carried it out. This is because we cannot achieve anything significant by doing so.
The complaint
The complainants, who I will refer to as Mr and Mrs B, complain about the content of a child and family assessment. They also complain about the conduct of the social worker who carried out the assessment.
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 effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Following a referral, the Council carried out a pre-birth child and family assessment in relation to the welfare of a child. Mr and Mrs B are the child’s paternal grandparents. They complain that the assessment said they pose a risk to the child and that they have a bad relationship with the mother. They say neither is true.
The evidence shows the assessment resulted in the child being treated as a Child in Need. However, the child and her parents have now moved to the area of another authority and the Council’s involvement has ceased.
We will not investigate Mr and Mrs B’s complaint because we would not achieve anything significant by doing so. The Ombudsman will not ask for an assessment to be altered retrospectively because it sets out the view officers took at the time it was written, and it is not for the Ombudsman to comment on those views. The most we will normally seek to achieve in these circumstances is that a complainant's contrary views are recorded. Mr and Mrs B have complained and set out their views on the assessment, so this has already been done. It is also the case that the Council has no ongoing involvement with the child, so there is no ongoing injustice. The Ombudsman’s involvement is not warranted.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr and Mrs B’s complaint because we cannot achieve anything significant by doing so.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman