Buckinghamshire Council (21 017 599)
Category : Children's care services > Looked after children
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 24 Apr 2022
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the way the Council has dealt with the care of her son, because this matter has been to court.
The complaint
- Miss X complains about the way the Council has dealt with the care of her son, Mr Y. Miss X is concerned that Mr Y was placed in an unsuitable foster placement and is a danger to others.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Ombudsman cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because the matters relating to the case have been to court. By law, the Ombudsman cannot consider matters that have been to court.
Final decision
- We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because it relates to matters which have been, or can be, decided in court.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman