London Borough of Lewisham (20 007 425)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that a Council employee abused the complainant and threatened to have her children taken into care. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant can report the incident to the police.

Isle of Wight Council (19 015 597)

Report Upheld Other 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms C complained to the Council that it delayed reassessing her son E’s needs and deciding about his personal budget. Ms C says these delays meant her son’s needs were not met and she was caused uncertainty and distress. The Council refused to consider Ms C’s complaint at Stage 2 of the statutory children’s complaint procedure. As a result, we investigated both Ms C’s complaint about delay and the Council’s complaint procedure. On the evidence available, we found fault with the Council’s management of E’s personal budget and its refusal to consider Ms C’s complaint at Stage 2 of the statutory complaint procedure.

Kent County Council (20 008 613)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s children services involvement with his family. It is unlikely we would find Council fault has directly caused the cessation of contact between Mr X and his children. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed for his data protection complaint. And we are unlikely to improve on the Council’s remedy offer for an unbalanced assessment.

Northamptonshire County Council (20 002 614)

Statement Upheld Other 16-Jan-2021

Summary: The Council were at fault for including inaccurate information about Mr C when completing a single assessment, it was also at fault for how it dealt with his complaints. It has agreed to make a payment to remedy the injustice these faults caused Mr C.

London Borough of Bexley (20 005 411)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint the Council failed properly to conduct a Children and Family assessment as ordered by the First-tier Tribunal. This is because Mr B has already used a right of appeal to a statutory tribunal to resolve the matter complained of, and we have no discretion to investigate.

Wiltshire Council (20 008 947)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 12-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s preparation and content of a report it prepared for Court proceedings. We also cannot investigate information given by officers to the Court within those proceedings.

Sunderland City Council (20 008 427)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 11-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of the Council’s Children’s Services department in relation to the complainants’ family. This is because the actions complained of are connected with court proceedings and are therefore out of our jurisdiction.

East Sussex County Council (20 003 133)

Statement Upheld Other 07-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X says the Council has not corrected errors in reports about his children, as recommended by the statutory children’s complaints process. There was fault by the Council. The action the Council has already taken is a suitable remedy for the injustice caused.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 001 669)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council refused to consider his complaint under stage two of the statutory children’s complaints procedure. The Council was at fault. It should have completed a stage two investigation when Mr X requested it. The Council has agreed to complete the stage two investigation, pay Mr X £200 in recognition of the frustration and uncertainty caused by delay and poor communication and remind relevant staff of its duties under the statutory procedure.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (20 008 076)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council contacting him in error about a matter. While he found this distressing, the Council’s apology is sufficient for the injustice caused.