Surrey County Council (21 012 617)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 10-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to a complaint made against Children’s Services. This is because there is no evidence of fault on the Council’s part causing unremedied injustice to the complainant.

London Borough of Merton (21 004 099)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 07-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained about the support and actions of the Council in relation to a child in need who lived with them. She also complained that reports the Council wrote for the courts were flawed and contained false allegations about her. We found the Council was at fault for not considering the complaint through the statutory children’s complaints process.

Norfolk County Council (20 003 047)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 23-Dec-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to arrange a review panel to consider Mr B’s complaint. It was also at fault for failing to apply for disability living allowance for Mr B while he was a looked-after child. However, it has already offered a suitable financial remedy to recognise his injustice.

Derby City Council (21 000 063)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Dec-2021

Summary: Miss B complained about how the Council dealt with her in relation to her daughter who is in local authority care. There is no fault in the majority of the complaint. There was a failure to provide Miss B with input into one review meeting and the Council has not provided a review date for the communications plan in place. The apology and change of procedure the Council has already put in place, along with an amended policy for unreasonably persistent complainants is satisfactory remedy.

Milton Keynes Council (21 003 600)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 13-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the provision of information to the complainant. This is because there is no indication of fault on the Council’s part.

Warrington Council (21 009 036)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 07-Dec-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council has applied to the courts for a Special Guardianship Order. This is because the law does not allow us to investigate complaints about the start of court action.

Devon County Council (21 010 934)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to respond to her concerns about the care of her two children, who were in foster care. We find the Council was at fault for failing to tell Miss X she could return to the complaints process after court proceedings and the Local Authority Designated Officer process were complete. We also find the Council was at fault for failing to keep Miss X updated about the progress of the Local Authority Designated Officer process. The Council agrees actions to remedy the injustice.

West Sussex County Council (21 005 151)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr B complains the Council has not arranged for contact with children and has not suitably considered his complaint. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for not considering Mr B’s complaint under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. This is fault causing delay and injustice to Mr B. The Council has agreed to consider Mr B’s complaint under the statutory complaints process.

Hertfordshire County Council (21 002 762)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 24-Nov-2021

Summary: We found fault with the Council for delays in the statutory complaint process when it investigated Mrs B’s complaint. This caused an injustice. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice it caused.

Manchester City Council (20 008 516)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 17-Nov-2021

Summary: The complainant alleged that the Council delayed in taking her into its care when she was homeless and at risk. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council’s actions, causing the complainant an injustice. The Council has agreed to provide the recommended remedy. Therefore, we have completed our investigation and are closing the complaint.