Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X complaint about a social worker’s actions during court proceedings. This is because we have no jurisdiction to investigate events that happen in court.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council social worker’s actions in court and when preparing a section 7 court report. She says they lied, dismissed her concerns and were biased.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint. We have no jurisdiction to investigate the social worker’s actions in court.
7. Matters related to the social worker’s preparation of a section 7 court report are also outside our jurisdiction.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is about matters which form part of court proceedings.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman