Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint the Council did not respond to her request for information. The Council has now responded, therefore there is nothing worthwhile to be achieved through investigation.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained the Council did not respond to her request for information, about the welfare of her grandchild, Y. Y is looked after by the Council. She said that had caused her to worry that Y may be coming to harm whilst in the Council’s care. She wants the Council to respond to her concerns.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint the Council failed to respond to her request for information. The Council has now sent a response. Therefore, there is nothing worthwhile to be achieved by investigation. If Miss X has concerns about how the Council is providing care for Y, then she can make a complaint to it through the Children’s Statutory Complaint procedure.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is nothing worthwhile to be achieved by investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman