The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about fault on the Council’s part in the child protection process. This is because the action the Council has taken in response to the complainant’s concerns is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will refer to as Mr B, complains that the Council was at fault in the conduct of an initial child protection conference and in making child protection plans in respect of his children.
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
Mr B’s children were made the subject of child protection plans following a Section 47 enquiry. Mr B complained about the conduct of the initial child protection conference at which the decision was made. He says it was procedurally flawed and the decision was wrongly made. Mr B wants the initial child protection conference reconvened with a different chair.
Mr B complained under the procedure for complaints about child protection conferences and to the Council. In response, the Council proposed a review of the assessment and child protection processes, which has now been carried out. Mr B was offered an early review child protection conference.
The Council’s agreement to carry out a full review of the processes about which Mr B complained is reasonable in the circumstances. It has also agreed to amend its records accordingly. With the review child protection conference, the actions the Council has agreed to take provides an appropriate basis on which to proceed and removes any need for the Ombudsman’s intervention. If Mr B is unhappy with the outcome of the review conference, this may form the basis for a new complaint.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because the action the Council has taken in response to the complaint is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman