Devon County Council (20 004 152)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 02-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X complaint about the Council’s actions concerning the residence of her great-grandchildren. Some of these matters are not separable from the those decided by a court, which means we cannot investigate them. The remaining matters are historic and there is no good reason to consider them.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (19 015 369)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 28-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of his requests for a special guardianship allowance. Mr X said this caused him financial difficulties. The Council had already investigated under the statutory children’s complaints procedures, found it acted with fault and taken suitable steps to address the injustice caused to Mr X and to make the relevant procedural changes. We could achieve nothing further.

Lancashire County Council (19 016 674)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to offer financial support when her grandchildren came to live with her. She says this caused her financial hardship. The Council was at fault for not providing basic information about the different ways someone can care for another person’s child and for not considering whether it could offer financial support when she asked for it. It should pay her £150 for the uncertainty caused and consider the request for financial assistance.

Durham County Council (19 020 430)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 16-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council delayed in paying her for the maintenance of children it asked her to look after. The Council is at fault. It should apologise and pay Mrs X £750.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 000 189)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 09-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to properly consider financial support when she agreed to take care of her grandson in 2012. This included financial support leading up to the Residence Order being granted and the Residence Order Allowance following on from this. The Ombudsman found the Council was not at fault for failing to provide a Residence Order Allowance to Miss X. However we found the Council failed to consider Y a looked after child causing Miss X to miss out on financial assistance as a Family and Friend Foster Carer. The Council agreed to pay Miss X the backdated financial assistance she is entitled to.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (19 003 363)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 05-Oct-2020

Summary: The complainant alleges that the Council’s Special Guardianship allowance practice was not in accordance with statutory guidance and it also withdrew financial support for his legal assistance. The Ombudsman has found fault in the Council’s understanding of the statutory guidance, which has affected the allowance paid to the complainant, and to other family foster carers, during the first two years since they were granted a Special Guardianship Order. The Ombudsman has also found fault in the way the Council withdrew the financial support for legal assistance to the complainant. The Council has accepted the recommended actions to remedy this complaint.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (19 014 399)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 01-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council handled his Special Guardianship Allowance and his complaint. He says this caused stress and anxiety, had a significant financial impact on him, and cost him time and trouble. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to increase Mr X’s Special Guardianship Allowance and for failing to carry out annual financial reviews. This caused Mr X injustice. The Ombudsman is satisfied that the Council has remedied the injustice caused to Mr X and implemented appropriate service improvements. The Ombudsman does not find the Council at fault for the other parts of Mr X’s complaint.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (19 020 527)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 25-Sep-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about lack of advice and support from the Council since 2010 about Special Guardianship Order allowances. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint further as it would be reasonable to expect Mrs X to have complained to us before 2020. The complaint is therefore late and outside the Ombudsman’s remit. In any case, it is unlikely the Ombudsman could add to the previous investigation by the Council.

Durham County Council (19 012 062)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 23-Sep-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to pay her the correct fostering allowance when she was a family and friend foster carer and that it encouraged her to apply for a Child Arrangement Order. The Ombudsman found the Council paid the correct allowance and was not at fault in the advice it gave Ms X. However, we find the Council was at fault for not assisting with Ms X’s legal costs in accordance with its policy and not completing a financial assessment after she asked for support. The Council has agreed to reimburse her legal costs and complete a retrospective financial assessment. That remedies any injustice caused.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (20 002 336)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 16-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about payment of an allowance for transporting his grandchildren while they were in foster care. This is because it is unlikely an investigation by the Ombudsman could add to the response Mr X has already received or achieve anything more.