London Borough of Bexley (19 005 836)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 04-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s refusal of her request for a specific respite care placement. The Ombudsman finds there was no fault in the way the Council reached its decisions about what respite to offer.

Bracknell Forest Council (19 010 117)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of her complaints under the statutory children’s complaints process. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault. He recommends the Council makes a payment and takes action to consider Mrs X’s further complaints in line with the statutory guidance.

Medway Council (19 015 936)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 04-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision to deregister her as a foster carer, the actions of an Independent Reviewing Officer, and the impact of the Council’s decision on her former foster children. The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the complaint is late, and it was reasonable for Mrs X to use the Independent Review Mechanism to challenge the Council’s decision to deregister her. Given the time that has elapsed, it would be difficult to establish exactly what the Independent Reviewing Officer said, and Mrs X does not have permission to complain on behalf of her former foster children.

London Borough of Bromley (19 007 318)

Statement Upheld Child protection 03-Mar-2020

Summary: there is fault in the Council’s handling of Ms B’s complaint about an initial child protection conference following an injury to her child. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice this caused Ms B by apologising and making a payment to her. It will also ensure that future complaints about case conferences are responded to properly under the correct complaints process.

Surrey County Council (19 013 191)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 03-Mar-2020

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mrs B’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services department. The Ombudsman is not able to award compensation for distress in the way a court might, so we cannot achieve the outcome Mrs B wants.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 017 053)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the accuracy of a Council assessment. It is unlikely our investigation could achieve more than the Council has already offered.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (19 017 956)

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

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that the social worker gave false information to her university tutor. This is because the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the matter.

London Borough of Bromley (19 009 210)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains of fault by social workers in deciding her children were at risk of significant harm. The records show there was no fault by the Council.

Derbyshire County Council (19 015 388)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 29-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr and Mrs B’s complaint that the Council was at fault in failing to provide proper support for them as foster carers and in unreasonably deregistering them. This is because the complaint is late and there are insufficient grounds to investigate it now.

Staffordshire County Council (19 013 741)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to contact the complainant about the welfare of his children. This is because he is unlikely to find fault by the Council.