Hertfordshire County Council (19 012 369)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 06-Jan-2020

Summary: Ms X complained about the behaviour, attitude and conduct of a Council officer when her friend raised child protection concerns on her behalf, about Ms X’s grandchild. We should not investigate this complaint. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault causing a significant injustice to Ms X, and it is unlikely further investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Derbyshire County Council (19 012 415)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 06-Jan-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council accused her of impersonating a social worker to find out information, including in a report which will be used as part of private court proceedings. We cannot investigate this complaint, because we cannot investigate the content of reports which are before the courts.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (19 012 703)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 06-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s involvement in issues concerning his daughter. This is because it falls outside our jurisdiction as the matters complained about have been the subject of court proceedings and they happened too long ago to be investigated now.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 012 629)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 05-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss A’s complaint that failings by a social worker led to her daughter being placed for adoption. This is because the complaint relates to matters which have been decided in court.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (19 010 126)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 03-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms X’s complaints which are covered by Court proceedings or inextricably linked to them. We should not investigate her complaint about an officer’s professionalism as there is another body better placed to do so.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (19 010 528)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 03-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council producing inaccurate minutes. It is unlikely we would achieve a significantly different outcome than the Council provided of placing her comments with the minutes.

Essex County Council (19 004 642)

Statement Upheld Child protection 02-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of child protection enquiries and about the actions of his social worker. He also complains the Council misgendered him by using incorrect pronouns and that it used his birth name in paperwork. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for using Mr X’s birth name and female pronouns. We do not find fault with the Council’s handling of the child protection enquiries or with the actions of the social worker. We have made some recommendations.

Nottingham City Council (19 006 144)

Statement Upheld Child protection 31-Dec-2019

Summary: Despite finding in Mr C’s favour, when investigating his complaint about children’s social care services, the Council did not do enough to recognise the impact the issues had on him. The Council has now agreed to offer Mr C an appropriate financial remedy.

Bedford Borough Council (19 003 485)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 23-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to properly provide support for her son and the wider family. She says this caused her distress and health problems, and meant she had to pay for legal representation at a child protection conference. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council.

Devon County Council (19 010 104)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 18-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the involvement of the Council’s social services with the complainant and his family. This is because there is nothing he could add to the Council’s response and he could not achieve the complainant’s desired outcomes.