Devon County Council (20 009 025)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 08-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that a foster carer abused and neglected a child that the complainant later adopted. This is because it is a late complaint.

West Sussex County Council (20 008 875)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 29-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint about contact with their granddaughter. The family has a right to go to court about these matters it would be reasonable to use.

Wakefield City Council (20 008 636)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 20-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about historical allegations of abuse. There are no good reasons the late complaint rule should not apply.

Norfolk County Council (20 002 136)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 19-Jan-2021

Summary: There is no evidence of fault in how the Council managed the educational provision for a looked after child, Y. There was a delay in assessing Y’s Special Educational Needs, however this did not cause an injustice.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 017 225)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 15-Jan-2021

Summary: The Council considered S’s wish to increase contact with his parents and siblings, but it failed to arrange his reviews for a time and place he would be able to attend without having to miss school and did not ensure the Independent Reviewing Officer spoke to S before the reviews. The Council has agreed to take action to ensure S fully understands its reasons for not increasing contact and to prevent similar failings in future.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (19 020 059)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 05-Jan-2021

Summary: there is no fault that has caused Mr A injustice in relation to his complaint about the actions of the Council’s children’s services team.

Liverpool City Council (20 006 676)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 04-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about contact with and access to children he fostered with his former partner. Courts decide the contact and residence arrangements of children. Mr X has a right to take the matter to court it would be reasonable for him to use.

Surrey County Council (20 007 841)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 04-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to pay for 70 hours of planned care after it ended working with her company. This is a matter relating to a possible breach of contract that it would be reasonable for her to take to court.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (20 007 632)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 18-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse and failed to provide documents he requested. We should not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find fault with the Council’s decision not to investigate and the Information Commissioner is best placed to handle the complaint about failure to provide documents.

Southampton City Council (19 014 061)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 17-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr S complained, through his representative, the Council failed to properly plan for his release from custody and failed to support him as a child in need. This caused him distress because he did not have a suitable address or support plan, which would have allowed him to take advantage of early release. He did not have a permanent address or full-time education in place from his automatic release date even though he was only fifteen years of age at the time. There is evidence of fault by the Council and it has been asked to apologise, make payments and amend its procedures so it begins planning for children’s releases earlier.