Kent County Council (20 009 466)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s children services team’s approach towards him. There are no good reasons why the late complaint rule should not apply.

Nottingham City Council (20 010 853)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council was at fault in its involvement with her family in the course of child in need and child protection action. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part, or add anything to the investigation the Council has carried out.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (20 010 325)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Miss C’s complaint that the Council has failed to investigate and explain why her son was removed from her care and why she has been denied contact with him. Her complaint about her son’s placement is late and there are no grounds for us to consider it now. It would be reasonable for Miss C to pursue contact issues in court.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 005 182)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 23-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the communication between the complainants and the Council in their role as foster carers and the removal of a child from their care. The Council has apologised and committed to learning from the communication issues and there is not enough evidence of fault in the way it made the decision to remove the child, so an investigation is not warranted.

Wakefield City Council (20 002 484)

Statement Upheld Other 23-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs F complained the Council failed to properly consider the complaints they made about the way it had looked after their daughter, G, who was in care. The Council accepted their complaints at Stage One of the statutory complaints procedure but then failed to proceed to the subsequent stages. This had caused Mr and Mrs F time and trouble in trying to get the Council to follow the guidance. The Council has agreed to start a statutory Stage Two investigation into their complaints and to make a payment to acknowledge their time and trouble.

Swindon Borough Council (20 007 043)

Statement Upheld Other 23-Feb-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for a delay in carrying out actions it had agreed with Mrs B in response to her complaint. It has agreed to update her on these actions, and to apologise. It has also agreed to make a symbolic payment of £100 to recognise the injustice caused to Mrs B by the delay.

Staffordshire County Council (20 010 156)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 23-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council is at fault in failing to take action in response to her complaint about a foster carer. This is because it is unlikely we could add to the investigation the Council has carried out.

Wakefield City Council (20 011 231)

Statement Upheld Other 23-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs F complained the Council failed to properly consider the complaints they made about the way it had looked after their son, H, who was in care. The Council accepted their complaints at Stage One of the statutory complaints procedure but then failed to proceed to the subsequent stages. This had caused Mr and Mrs F time and trouble in trying to get the Council to follow the appropriate guidance. The Council has agreed to start a statutory Stage Two investigation into their complaints as soon as possible and to make a payment to acknowledge their time and trouble.

Suffolk County Council (20 005 345)

Statement Upheld Child protection 22-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr B complained about the Council’s Common Assessment Framework report and plan. Mr B says the Council’s actions caused him and his children distress. The Council was at fault for not considering Mr B’s complaint under the statutory complaint procedure. The Council has agreed to do so without further delay.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (20 002 538)

Statement Upheld Child protection 22-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to address concerns he raised regarding his ex-partner’s behaviour towards their children. He also complained the Council did not uphold all his complaint points at Stage 3 panel. He said the Council’s actions led to his children being removed from his care. The Council was at fault when it failed to carry out the Stage 2 investigation in line with statutory requirements. This fault has not caused Mr X a significant injustice.