Herefordshire Council (20 000 734)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 08-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of a child’s placement into her care. She says the Council failed to correctly assess the needs of the child and did not put the child’s needs first. Mrs X says the Council did not adequately address the impact of its actions on her, her family and the child. She says the Council’s actions caused avoidable distress and financial loss to her. We have found fault by the Council in this matter and the Council has agreed a remedy to address the injustice caused.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (19 010 155)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 23-Dec-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not provide her with sufficient advice to make an informed choice about her options when she became a carer for her grandchild, Z. She said the Council then pressurised her into becoming a special guardian and had not provided enough financial support. The Council was not at fault.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (19 018 436)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 11-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council stopped her Special Guardianship Allowance in 2016 although she was experiencing financial hardship at the time. During our investigation, the Council admitted it acted with fault. It has awarded Ms X £22,300 in back payments. This is satisfactory to remedy the injustice the Council caused her. The Council has also agreed to carry out an audit of special guardians to ensure others have not been affected by the same fault.

Devon County Council (20 003 495)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 03-Dec-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has refused to pay her legal fees despite agreeing to do so. There is no evidence the Council advised Ms X to obtain legal advice or agreed to fund the cost of this advice. The Council’s refusal to pay Ms X’s legal fees does not therefore amount to fault.

Durham County Council (19 020 852)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 02-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council was not at fault for its decision to end Mrs B’s special guardianship support. It properly applied its policy and statutory guidance, and considered detailed information about her finances, so we cannot question its decision.

North Yorkshire County Council (20 006 372)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 23-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that the Council has failed to provide her with financial support for caring for her granddaughter. This is because it would be reasonable for her to use the Council’s appeal process.

London Borough of Brent (20 006 426)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 17-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the actions of a social worker in producing a report on her suitability for a Special Guardianship Order, and the content of the report. This is because the report concerned a matter which was considered and decided in court.

Devon County Council (20 005 434)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 10-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council gave incorrect advice to a Special Guardian. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (19 016 116)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 06-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to assess him for a Residence Order Allowance in 2009. The Council was at fault for failing to consider his need for a Residence Order Allowance in 2009. That caused Mr X avoidable uncertainty as he does not know whether he would have been eligible for support. The Council has offered to pay Mr X £1500. This remedies the injustice it caused him.

Birmingham City Council (19 005 305)

Report Upheld Friends and family carers 02-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to recognise her and her partner as family and friends carers when a private fostering arrangement for Child C ended.