The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint about a children social worker’s report to a child protection conference. It is unlikely our investigation could achieve more than has been offered or achieved.
The complaint
The complainants, whom I shall call Mr and Mrs X, complain about the accuracy of a Council report given to a child protection conference.
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 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 could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr and Mrs X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr and Mrs X looked after their grandchildren from time to time, to help support the children’s mother. In April 2022 an incident occurred which led the Council to believe the support plans for the mother might not be working. It was worried the children were at risk of significant harm. It called a child protection conference in May 2022.
The Child Protection Conference decides what action is needed to safeguard the child. This may include a recommendation the child should be supported by a Child Protection Plan.
After the Initial Child Protection Conference, the Council holds one or more Review Child Protection Conferences. These consider progress on action taken to safeguard the child and whether the Child Protection Plan should be maintained, amended, or discontinued.
Review Child Protection Conferences should be held within three months of the initial conference, and after that at maximum intervals of six months.
The Child Protection Conference is a multi-agency body and is not in itself a body in the Ombudsman's jurisdiction.
The Child Protection Conference plays an advisory role. But the final decision, for example whether to place a child on a Child Protection Plan or to discontinue a Plan, is the responsibility of the council. We would generally consider it right for a council to follow the recommendations of the Child Protection Conference unless there was good reason not to.
The Council held a review Conference in August and another one is set for January 2023.
Mr and Mrs X say the Councils; social worker gave an inaccurate and unfair report to the Initial Child Protection Conference. They complained to the Council. Mr and Mrs X are concerned the other professionals at the initial Child Protection Conference saw the report.
The Council has apologised to Mr and Mrs X about the way they feel about the report. It has tried to reassure them on how they feel the report reflects on them.
The Council has told us that with Mr and Mrs X’s agreement, it would send to the attendees of the Child Protection Conference, their complaint which sets out their version of events. This, together with there having been a review conference, at which it is reasonable to expect Mr and Mrs X to have set out their views, means it is unlikely our investigation could achieve more.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint because we are unlikely to achieve more than has already been achieved or offered.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman