London Borough of Bromley (19 003 320)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 31-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about a family assessment completed by the Council’s social services department. This it because the actions and views underlying the assessment have informed court reports and proceedings.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (18 014 115)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s views on him and the care of his child. A Court is considering this.

East Sussex County Council (19 003 680)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs A’s complaint that the Council disclosed her personal information without her consent. This is because it would be reasonable for Mrs A to take the matter to court.

Leicestershire County Council (19 003 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council has refused to deal with his complaint about its social worker’s court report. Mr X should challenge the content of the report at court not via the complaint procedure. The Ombudsman cannot investigate the content of a court report. Mr X can go to the Information Commissioner if the Council has refused him information.

Suffolk County Council (19 003 327)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 22-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the way Council officers described him to a Court, nor prepared their evidence. We cannot investigate legal proceedings.

Essex County Council (18 019 799)

Statement Upheld Other 22-Jul-2019

Summary: There was fault in how the Council calculated petrol costs for school transport. The Council recognised its error and now paid the correct amount, but it has also now agreed to recognise the time and trouble the complainant went to in pursing the matter.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (18 019 698)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Jul-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman does not have the legal powers to investigate a complaint about evidence the Council presented to a court which was considering where the complainant’s grandson should live.

North Yorkshire County Council (18 016 057)

Statement Upheld Other 16-Jul-2019

Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of her daughter Miss Z, who has special educational needs, that the Council failed to plan to meet her care needs during transition from education into adulthood. The Council failed to plan ahead. Although it allowed flexible use of continued direct payments until it had an adequate plan, this fault caused Mrs X and Miss Z avoidable uncertainty and confusion. The Council has agreed to make a token payment of £500 for Miss Z’s benefit and to provide us, and Mrs X, with its updated staff protocol explaining how it has learnt from this complaint.

Nottinghamshire County Council (18 016 189)

Statement Not upheld Other 15-Jul-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about how the Council handled safeguarding referrals about her children, and the Child in Need process. She complains the Council has not properly responded to her complaint. She says this has caused her distress. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council.

London Borough of Haringey (18 016 619)

Statement Not upheld Other 10-Jul-2019

Summary: Ms M complains the Council has not adapted her bathroom to meet the needs of her disabled children. The Council’s Occupational Therapist has assessed Ms M’s children and did not identify any needs or recommend any adaptations. There is no fault by the Council. The Ombudsman cannot question decisions made without fault.