Complaints Review Committee - 24/01/2013
At a MEETING of the COMPLAINTS REVIEW COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th January, 2013.
APPENDIX I
Present:-
Mr Thomas W TAIT
Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS
Councillor Richard McCREADY
Mr Thomas TAIT, Chairperson, in the Chair.
Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.
The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 5 and 7 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.
I DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were made.
II PROCEDURES
The Chairman outlined the procedure for the conduct of the meeting which was noted by the Committee and the Complainant.
III CASE NO DCC 1/2013
The Committee considered a complaint which had been made by the Complainant about the alleged actions of the Social Work Department and other agencies in the course of their involvement with the Complainant and his family. The Committee gave consideration to the verbal submission of the Complainant and the written submission on behalf of the Social Work Department, including correspondence, copies of which had been circulated.
The Committee heard oral representations by the Complainant and the representative of the Social Work Department. The Committee also heard witnesses called on behalf of the Complainant.
It was reported that the Complainant had made a complaint, in summary, that the Social Work Department of Dundee City Council and partner agencies falsified reports and conducted themselves in a threatening manner towards the Complainant and his family in the course of their duties.
Having considered the complaint, reviewed the written submissions before them and having regard to the oral representations and witnesses, the Complaints Review Committee agreed:-
(i) that, in relation to matters concerning other agencies outwith the Social Work Department of Dundee City Council, the Committee noted that any issues of concern the Complainant had with them would be taken up by the Complainant direct as the Committee were not in a position to examine any action that they may have taken and could only look at the matter concerning the Social Work Department of Dundee City Council;
(ii) that on the basis of the verbal submission and written evidence submitted to the Committee by the Social Work Department, and the verbal submission received from the Complainant and having heard witnesses called on behalf of the Complainant, it was the opinion of the Committee that the complaint had not been substantiated and it was not possible to conclude that any report(s) had been falsified or that any officer or representative of the Social Work Department had behaved in an improper manner or had exhibited threatening behaviour towards the Complainant and his family in the course of their duties during contact with the Complainant and his family.
(iii) that the emotive pressures that the nature of the contact and attention of the Social Work Department had brought to bear on the Complainant and his family on the issue under consideration at that time and the stress this could cause be noted; and
(iv) that separate to the matters the Complainant brought to the attention of the Committee, it be noted that the Complainant advised that he was comfortable with the contact from the Social Workers who were currently meeting with the Complainant and his family and that he saw this as a positive step towards continuing to engage with the Social Work Department at that time.
Thomas TAIT, Chairperson.