London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 003 632)

Statement Upheld Other 12-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the actions of the Council, NHS and schools involved with his disabled child, W. The Council was at fault for delay in responding to Mr X’s complaint. This caused him avoidable frustration. To remedy this, the Council will pay Mr X £250. The Council’s complaint response was suitably independent and thorough, so I have not investigated the substantive matters Mr X complained to the Ombudsman about.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (23 018 689)

Statement Upheld Other 11-Mar-2024

Summary: The Ombudsman previously recommended the Council respond to Mrs X’s stage two statutory children’s complaint within 65 working days. The Council was at fault for failing to comply with that recommendation. This caused Mrs X frustration for which the Council will pay her £150 and complete the stage two response. The Council will also prepare a database of officers who can carry out stage two investigations to prevent the fault happening again.

Shropshire Council (23 016 566)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the residence and contact arrangements for Mrs X’s grandchild. The current arrangements were set by a court and only a court could specify different arrangements. It would therefore be reasonable for Mrs X to go to court to seek changed arrangements. Another body is better placed than us to consider complaints about data disclosure.

Staffordshire County Council (23 017 913)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mrs X’s family’s case and its subsequent court report. The law prevents us from considering the content of councils’ reports to court and their actions as part of proceedings.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (23 015 785)

Statement Upheld Other 06-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We have upheld Mr X’s complaint as the Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure.

Luton Borough Council (23 016 264)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 05-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of a social worker and the complainant not being paid for services he has provided. This is because there is no worthwhile outcome we could achieve.

City of London (23 019 372)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 04-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council carried out a child and family assessment. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council considered the complaint under the statutory complaint’s procedure.

Kent County Council (23 018 972)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 04-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of Council staff affecting the complainant’s family. This is because the complaint matters were considered and decided in court. The actions of the Council’s staff cannot be separated out from matters we have no remit to consider.

London Borough of Bromley (23 008 648)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss X complained the Council did not provide the therapeutic support for her and her son, Y in line with a court ordered care plan. Miss X said some of the therapy was stopped and started and the Council did not provide the therapy for Y. The Council was at fault, it did not review the care plan properly and delayed in starting the therapy for Y. It agreed to apologise to Miss X and pay her a symbolic amount of £500 to recognise the frustration and uncertainty caused to her and to make service improvements.

Nottinghamshire County Council (23 016 487)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Mar-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in respect of the complainant’s daughter. This is because it concerns matters which have been considered in court or are related to those matters.