Kent County Council (21 017 183)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 31-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council making statements the complainant considered libellous. This is because libel is a matter for the courts, not the Ombudsman.

Derbyshire County Council (21 017 637)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 31-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about safeguarding children in a sports setting. Investigation is not warranted by any possible injustice to Mr X. And there is no reason to exercise discretion to consider possible injustice to unnamed other persons caused by any fault by the Council.

Northumberland County Council (21 018 332)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 31-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint concerning the Council’s involvement in a report considered in the Family Court. This is because the issues Miss X raises cannot be separated from the matters decided in court.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (21 017 631)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. That is because the body he complains about is not within our jurisdiction.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (21 018 265)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions concerning Miss X’s children. The matters complained of are not separable from ongoing court action about where her children should live.

London Borough of Croydon (20 009 010)

Report Upheld Other 28-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr and Mrs A complain the Council failed to provide the support set out in a care plan for a child in their care.

London Borough of Croydon (21 011 703)

Statement Not upheld Other 28-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained to the Council about disability discrimination in dealing with her over an assessment of her daughter’s social care needs. She complained to the Ombudsman that the Council refused to progress her complaint to the second stage of the complaints process but instead told her to make a legal claim. The Council has now decided to investigate the complaint at stage 2 of the children’s social care complaints procedure. We have therefore decided to stop investigating the complaint as it would not achieve any more for Ms X at this stage. Once she has completed the complaints process she may make another complaint to the Ombudsman if she is not happy with the outcome.

London Borough of Brent (21 018 157)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council is at fault for delaying consideration of this complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to issue its stage two response and make a payment to the complainant for the time and trouble its delay has caused.

Lincolnshire County Council (21 010 646)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her son with appropriate social care support from March 2021, and failed to complete appropriate assessments of his needs. The Council was at fault as it failed to investigate Mrs X’s complaint under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. The Council will arrange and start a stage 2 investigation under these procedures within one month of this decision. It will also make a symbolic payment for the uncertainty and time and trouble this caused Mrs X.

Wiltshire Council (21 011 497)

Statement Not upheld Other 25-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X is not satisfied with the Council’s investigation and response to his complaint about its children’s services department. He does not consider the Council properly addressed his complaint. The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation. That is because there is not enough evidence of fault, and it is unlikely we could add to the Council’s investigation.