Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 007 457)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 05-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Miss A’s complaint that the Council has allowed her daughter to be placed with her former partner. This is because the complaint concerns a decision made by the court.

Portsmouth City Council (19 007 462)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 05-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs A’s complaint that the Council disclosed confidential information to a third party. This is because Mrs A may bring her concerns about the disclosure to the attention of the Information Commissioner, and investigation by the Ombudsman would not achieve the outcome she wants.

Lancashire County Council (18 017 554)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr Y complained the Council failed to provide him with his ‘approved list’ or inform him which children he could have contact with, with ‘the express approval of social services’ (as per the wording of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order). It also failed to give proper direction to another council as to what information to provide to him. There is evidence of Council fault and the Council has agreed to apologise, to make a payment for time and trouble and to ensure its procedures are clear.

London Borough of Wandsworth (18 018 494)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr Z complains of failings by the Council in dealing with him as the father of a young child, X. There was fault in several matters, though not all. These faults included poor communication and significant delay in dealing with Mr Z’s complaint. These caused him lost opportunity and unnecessary time and trouble as well as a loss of trust in the Council. The Council will apologise, pay Mr Z £805 and place a copy of this decision on X’s social care records.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (19 006 535)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman should not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services actions in 2018. It is unlikely we could achieve a significantly different outcome.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (18 016 627)

Statement Not upheld Other 27-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council handled an urgent child protection matter, particularly the actions of two social workers. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because it is unlikely he could add to the Council’s previous investigation, nor can he achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Staffordshire County Council (18 015 330)

Statement Not upheld Other 26-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr B complained about the removal of residential provision at school for his daughter, C, who has special educational needs. We find the Council’s position on this provision is unclear and contradictory. We consider Mr B should include the issue in his upcoming appeal to the Tribunal.

Salford City Council (19 006 950)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman should not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services not disclosing documents to him which he says the Court ordered. The events have been known to Mr X for more than 12 months and there are no compelling reasons why the late complaint rule should not apply.

Cambridgeshire County Council (19 006 505)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the decision the Council should care for his children and arrange an adoption. The Court made these orders and we cannot investigate Court orders.

London Borough of Sutton (18 018 304)

Statement Not upheld Other 24-Sep-2019

Summary: Miss B complains the Council did not properly deal with a s17 child in need assessment. The Council was not at fault in how it carried out the s17 assessment, but it did not deal with Miss B’s complaint through the correct complaints process. Miss B did not suffer any injustice because of this.