Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a child and family assessment. We cannot investigate reports which are used in Court proceedings.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mrs X, complains about a child and family assessment and a court report.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

3. I considered information provided by Mrs X.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mrs X says the Council produced a child and family assessment without her consent. She says the report is inaccurate and poorly written. She says the report has been used by the Council to form a report for Court proceedings about the care arrangements for her children. She says the Council has failed to keep to Court orders about the preparation and production of the Court report. She is not happy about the social worker’s communication with her about the report.
6. We have no power to investigate the content or preparation of reports used in Court proceedings. The report Mrs X refers to is a Children Act section seven report. The Court orders this report for its use.
7. We cannot investigate the preparation and content of the child and family assessment. The Council used it to form the basis of the section seven report.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because we cannot investigate reports which are part of Court proceedings.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman