Lancashire County Council (21 000 747)

Statement Upheld Fostering 03-Feb-2022

Summary: The Council was not at fault for how it dealt with Mr B’s concerns about a foster child in his care, or for how it conducted his exit interview after he resigned as a foster carer. It was, however, at fault for how it dealt with his complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr B.

London Borough of Wandsworth (20 001 412)

Statement Upheld Fostering 31-Jan-2022

Summary: The Council was not at fault for the way it re-approved Ms X back onto the fostering register. The Council was at fault for the support provided to Ms X during a fostering placement. This caused injustice to Ms X and the placement ended. The Council agreed to carry out the actions at the end of this statement to remedy the injustice caused.

Milton Keynes Council (21 001 503)

Statement Upheld Fostering 31-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council’s investigation into an incident where she did not take a young person to hospital was biased and unfair. The Council is at fault as it failed to make a clear distinction between a concern or allegation when investigating a matter involving Mrs X and in its communication with her. The Council also failed to clearly explain the process of the investigation, failed to ensure Mrs X had timely independent support and wrongly considered the concern or allegation to also be against Mr X. The Council also delayed in dealing with Mrs X’s complaint and in making an agreed payment to her. The faults by the Council caused distress to Mr and Mrs X which it will remedy by apologising and making a payment of £500 to them.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (21 014 246)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 26-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged overpayment of fostering allowance. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant the Ombudsman’s intervention.

Worcestershire County Council (20 007 078)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 11-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council acted inappropriately by telling her former foster children’s birth family that it was concerned she may attend their mother’s funeral despite there being no grounds to reach this conclusion. The Ombudsman found no grounds to criticise the Council.

Central Bedfordshire Council (21 000 934)

Statement Upheld Fostering 10-Jan-2022

Summary: The complainant, a foster carer, complained that the Council made numerous mistakes when paying her fostering allowances and expenses. The Council has accepted fault and agreed to the recommended way to remedy the injustice caused to the complainant. It is also looking to improve its payment system for all foster carers. We are therefore closing the complaint.

Blackpool Borough Council (21 013 476)

Statement Upheld Fostering 04-Jan-2022

Summary: The Council was at fault in delaying the consideration of Mrs B’s complaint at Stage 2 of the statutory procedure for children’s services complaints. It has agreed to begin Stage 2 and to offer to make a payment to Mrs B.

Bedford Borough Council (21 012 198)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 17-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr B’s attempts to challenge statements made about him by Council officers. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome he is seeking.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (21 013 411)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 16-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay in the statutory procedure for complaints about children’s services. This is because the injustice caused is not so significant as to warrant investigation.

City of Doncaster Council (21 012 390)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 14-Dec-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about actions the Council took after receiving a safeguarding referral. The matters complained of are not separable from matters that either have been or could have been raised in a court case.