Child could have been put at risk after Plymouth council 'error'

-Credit: (Image: William Telford)
-Credit: (Image: William Telford)


Plymouth City Council was ordered to apologise and pay cash to a dad after potentially putting his son at risk. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found the authority at fault after the dad, who is only named as Mr X, made a complaint.

The man’s son, referred to as Y in a report, was living at a different address with an adult who was arrested. But vital information given by the police was not shared with social workers by the council.

An important child protection meeting also went ahead without a key report being available. Fortunately, police information was eventually shared and vital orders were not lifted, as had been recommended, meaning that Y was kept safe despite the errors.

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Mr X complained about how the council dealt with safeguarding matters relating to his child. He had also escalated his complaint to the council but the authority had rejected this.

The Ombudsman, after an investigation, found the council had failed to properly record and take account of important information relating to safeguarding and the authority should have agreed to escalate Mr X’s complaint when he requested it.

A report from the Ombudsman said: “There was fault by the council. The council failed to properly record important information from the police about risks posed to Y.

“This led to the council suggesting a course of action which could have placed Y at risk of harm. Fortunately, the council was able to change its position before Y was put at risk when the information was provided again at a later date.”

The Ombudsman noted that the council had now provided dedicated note takers for child protection meetings to ensure proper records are kept of important information discussed. But the Ombudsman found further fault because reports for an ICPC (initial child protection conference) meeting were not provided to the chair and boy’s family within the time required by council procedures.

The Ombudsman has now recommended an apology and “modest payment” of £100 to Mr X. The Ombudsman said that within four weeks of a final decision, in June this year, the council should “provide a written apology for the failure to properly record and act on police information when it was first raised and the delay in sending reports out prior to the ICPC”. The Ombudsman added: “It should also apologise for not agreeing to escalate Mr X’s complaint. The council should make a payment to Mr X for £100 to recognise that he was put to additional time trouble and distress as a result of the fault identified.”

The council was also ordered to provide the Ombudsman with evidence it had complied with the actions ordered. A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “We welcome guidance from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman as a means to help shape and improve future services.

“Any faults identified by the Ombudsman are regrettable and will always be treated with the utmost seriousness. Plymouth City Council continually monitors and reviews processes and practices so that issues highlighted by complaints are not repeated.”

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