Kingston Upon Hull City Council (20 006 602)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 16-Dec-2020

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council holding inaccurate information about him and having shared this information with others, including during court proceedings. We cannot investigate what happened in court. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider issues relating to accuracy and sharing of information.

Bedford Borough Council (20 003 533)

Statement Upheld Child protection 15-Dec-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to make provision for her language difficulties, excluded her from a meeting and failed to take her views on her daughter into account. She also says the Council’s complaint handling was inadequate. The Council is at fault and has agreed a financial remedy and an apology.

Portsmouth City Council (20 006 804)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 15-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that Council officers have lied in the course of care proceedings, and have declined to give her support during her pregnancy. This is because the law prevents us investigating what happens in court, and we cannot achieve the outcome Miss B wants.

Wokingham Borough Council (19 013 571)

Statement Upheld Child protection 14-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council did not deal with Mr B’s complaint about an initial child protection case conference properly: it delayed in its consideration under the statutory children’s complaints procedure and took too long to reach a decision that it did not qualify for this procedure as it related to matters related to accuracy of data on its files. It also delayed before taking action subsequently recommended by the Information Commissioner’s Office

Blackburn with Darwen Council (20 005 603)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 12-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr C’s complaint about the Council’s actions and decisions regarding the care of his grandson. This is because the complaint concerns matters which have been decided in court.

Lancashire County Council (20 007 123)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 10-Dec-2020

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the decision to take the complainant’s children into care. This is because the complaint is made late and there is no good reason to consider it now.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (20 004 002)

Statement Upheld Child protection 09-Dec-2020

Summary: Miss Z complains about the Council’s handling of her complaint about what it did in response to reports of her being abused as a child. We have upheld elements of Miss Z’s complaint and recommended a larger financial remedy as well as service improvements. The Council accepts our recommendations, so we have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (20 004 960)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 09-Dec-2020

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s late complaint about how the Council handled his children’s case. There is not a good reason Mr X did not bring his complaint to the Ombudsman sooner.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (19 019 199)

Statement Upheld Child protection 09-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to respond to Mr B’s complaint about its social work involvement with his children. It has agreed to apologise, and to respond to the complaint.

North Yorkshire County Council (19 020 874)

Statement Upheld Child protection 08-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council poorly managed the child protection investigation it carried out when his partner, Ms Y, was pregnant. He says this caused them distress and ill health. There was no fault in the action the Council took to safeguard the child. There was poor communication which caused Mr X and Ms Y uncertainty and distress. The Council has already apologised for this, which is an appropriate remedy.