Norfolk County Council (20 005 547)

Statement Upheld Other 26-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss B complained about delay by the Council in dealing with her complaint about children’s services and delay in implementing the recommendations at all three stages of the complaints process. We found that the Council delayed unreasonably in considering the complaint and implementing the recommendations. The Council has agreed to pay Miss B £1000, consider training for all staff on the impact of domestic abuse and improve its procedures for the future.

Bracknell Forest Council (21 014 544)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the content of a court report or the Council’s refusal to take a complaint about it.

Warwickshire County Council (21 003 972)

Statement Not upheld Other 25-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complained about abuse suffered while in care and the Council’s failure to act in his best interests during that time. Mr X also complained about the way the Council responded to his complaint. As a result, Mr X feels as though he is being blamed for the issues he experienced and the Council has failed to listen to him. We have not found fault with the way the Council reached its decision not to investigate Mr X’s complaint or responded to his questions. We will not investigate the substantive complaint of abuse due to the time passed.

West Sussex County Council (21 009 243)

Statement Not upheld Other 25-Jan-2022

Summary: the Council was not at fault for how it dealt with Mr B’s correspondence about inaccuracies in a social work assessment. It properly advised him of his rights under the General Data Protection Regulation. However, it has now agreed to look into his complaint about discrimination.

London Borough of Hackney (21 014 304)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the loss and misuse of data. Miss X has a right to go to court it would be reasonable to use.

London Borough of Brent (21 014 091)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a social worker breaching a court order involving contact with his child. Only a court can consider a breach of a court order. Mr X has a right to return to court it would be reasonable to use.

City of Doncaster Council (21 013 220)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Jan-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s education welfare action because the Court has considered the case. We also cannot investigate a school’s action.

Surrey County Council (21 007 458)

Statement Upheld Other 20-Jan-2022

Summary: We uphold Mrs X’s complaint, as the Council delayed considering a complaint at stage two and stage three of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to complete its stage three without further delay and make a payment for the delay so far.

Cheshire East Council (21 012 021)

Statement Upheld Other 19-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council wrongly refused to allow her to escalate her complaints to stage 2 of the children’s statutory complaints procedures. The Council was at fault when it refused to go to stage 2 of the procedures. This caused Miss X avoidable frustration and time and trouble coming to the Ombudsman. It has agreed to apologise, pay Miss X £100 and move without further delay to stage 2. It has also agreed to carry out service improvements.

Staffordshire County Council (21 012 684)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Jan-2022

Summary: The Council agreed to arrange a stage three panel to consider this complaint about the Council’s children’s services. We will therefore not investigate it at this stage.