The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the conduct of a Council social worker. This is because we would achieve nothing significant by doing so.
The complaint
Mr X said a Council social worker who was working with his family on a child protection plan, has made false accusations against him. He also states the social worker has acted unprofessionally and was biased. This conduct has caused him and his family distress.
Mr X would like the Council to change his social worker, and issue him a formal apology.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome; or there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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
Mr X complained to the Council about the social worker engaging with his family on a child protection plan. He stated his wife could not speak English and was unable to understand all her dealings with the Council due to the Council not offering her a translator. He says this led to false accusations in written reports.
Mr X also stated the social worker acted unprofessionally and showed bias. As part of his complaint, Mr X asked for a new social worker to take over his case. The Council have reallocated a new social worker to work with Mr X’s family.
Mr X’s desired outcome of a new social worker has already been achieved, which was his main request. Therefore, If the Ombudsmen were to investigate, we would be unable to add anything significant to this, making it disproportionate for us to investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we would achieve nothing significant by doing so.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman