Ombudsman Refuses to Investigate Alleged Bias in Hartlepool Children’s Social Care Assessment...

Member of the public who complained about a council social workers 'bias' assessment is told by the Local Government Ombudsman that "they wont investigate the complaint", adding to the long list of complaints thrown out by the 'ineffective' & no longer fit for purpose organisation...

15th March 2025

A complaint regarding an allegedly biased children’s social care assessment given by a Hartlepool Borough Council social worker has been dismissed by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO), raising further concerns about the Ombudsman’s impartiality and effectiveness.

This latest case is said to add to the growing list of complaints being thrown out by the heavily council-backed LGO, fuelling accusations that the watchdog is more concerned with protecting local council interests, rather than actually holding them accountable.

Complaint Dismissed: Another Failure of Oversight?

The Hartlepool resident, only identified as Mr. X in the report, alleged that a social worker failed to consider his views during an assessment and approached the case with preconceived ideas about him.

He argued that this resulted in a biased report, which negatively impacted his mental health.

Seeking justice, the local resident then lodged a complaint, requesting that the social worker be dismissed. However, the LGO refused to investigate, claiming either that there was insufficient evidence to justify an inquiry or that they could not deliver upon the outcome the complainant sought.

Hartlepool Council’s Troubling Track Record

Just one in every ten complaints brought before the Ombudsman regarding Hartlepool Borough Council are upheld

Complaints against Hartlepool Borough Council's social workers have risen sharply over the past two years, and follows the council’s designation as an authority of no public confidence back in 2023. However, despite a surge in grievances, the LGO appears highly dismissive of public complaints against the 'troubled' local council, particularly regarding Hartlepool residents’ concerns about council social services.

The Ombudsman, often perceived has heavily biased towards local councils, is primarily run by former local government officers, raising serious doubts about its independence, where reports reveal that councils like Hartlepool have some of the lowest rates of upheld complaints, despite some cases highlighting serious issues within local government operations.

A Watchdog in Name Only?

Many locals who've experienced the LGO's complaints service find very quickly, its heavily leant towards local councils interests & not that of the aggrieved public.

The LGO’s refusal to investigate the complaint further exemplifies what many critics see as a flawed and ineffective system.

Rather than serving as an independent regulator, the Ombudsman increasingly appears to be acting in the best interests of councils rather than the public, with complaints in the rare instances being upheld by the LGO, often leading to paltry levels of compensation being handed out.

With Hartlepool residents repeatedly finding their complaints being ignored or dismissed, the question remains:

Who is holding Hartlepool Borough Council accountable?