The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with his children because there is not enough evidence of fault and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mr F’s children were the subjects of child in need plans. Mr F says the plans were no help and caused considerable distress. He says the Council said the plans were voluntary but threatened child protection enquiries if he refused.
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 do not start or continue an investigation if we decide: there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, 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 Mr F and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council undertook a child and family assessment following a number of referrals from people concerned about Mr F’s children. The Council produced a child in need plan and offered support.
Mr F does not share the Council’s concerns and believes he is being victimised by one of the bodies who made some of the referrals.
He did not find the support of the Council helpful. In fact, he said it caused considerable additional stress.
Mr F complained to the Council in February 2025. The Council responded in March 2025 and explained why it had been concerned about the children.
The child in need plans ended in February 2025 and Mr F’s children were transferred to the children with disabilities team instead.
We appreciate Mr F found his dealings with the Council very stressful and we are sorry to hear he found the support offered to be unhelpful. However, there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council for us to investigate further. And further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault, and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman