The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainant, who was a foster carer. This is because we could not add to the investigation carried out by the Council or achieve a different outcome.
The complaint
Mrs X complains about how the Council dealt with her regarding the ending of a foster care placement. Mrs X says she was treated disrespectfully, a social worker was unprofessional, that the move of her foster child was handled badly and that the Council failed to properly deal with her complaints about these matters.
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, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
In responding to Mrs X’s complaint, the Council explained why her foster son’s move was handled urgently although apologised for not informing her of the reason at the time and accepted that a planning meeting should have been held. The Council found that meetings prior to the move had been cancelled and not rescheduled. It apologised and reminded staff of the importance of rearranging meetings. The Council said that it did not invite Mrs X to a meeting that was held her foster son, as he had not asked her to attend.
I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because we could not add to the Council’s response or achieve a different outcome. The Council has fully explained and justified its reasons for Mrs X’s foster child being moved at short notice, and why Mrs X was not invited to a meeting, we could not add to this response. Where the Council has found fault, it has apologised and taken appropriate steps to avoid the same issue reoccurring. It has also offered Mrs X a payment to remedy the time and trouble pursuing the matter which is at an amount in line with our guidance.
I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the professionalism of social workers. This is because Social Work England are better placed to consider concerns about the conduct of individual social workers.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because we could not add to the investigation carried out by the Council or achieve a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman