Swindon Borough Council (22 017 084)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 30-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about information provided to the police by a Council’s social worker. This is because investigation could not establish that the Council’s action in providing the information caused the complainant a significant injustice.

Hertfordshire County Council (22 012 585)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 30-Mar-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council have continued to fail to properly investigate her complaint about not being provided with enough guidance and support as a new foster carer. She said the investigation was not independent and no evidence was produced to support the Council’s findings. The Ombudsman does not find fault in the Council’s actions.

Surrey County Council (22 016 605)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 30-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Ms X’s children. It relates to matters that are currently being considered in court.

Lancashire County Council (22 015 012)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 29-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about Lancashire County Council and Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s delay providing a joint care package to meet his son’s and the family’s needs. The Council has provided an appropriate remedy, which Mr X has accepted. It is unlikely an Ombudsmen investigation would achieve more.

Durham County Council (22 016 667)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 29-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about child protection. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to warrant investigation. Mr X also has a right to go to court it would b reasonable to use if he wishes to vary the contact and residence arrangements for his child.

London Borough of Hounslow (22 004 599)

Statement Upheld Child protection 29-Mar-2023

Summary: Miss X complained about the support the Council provided to protect her son from child criminal exploitation and related violence. There was fault in how the Council arranged for Miss X to move outside of its area, failed to decide whether to assess B’s special educational needs and how it handled Miss X’s complaint. This caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for which the Council agreed to apologise and pay Miss X a financial remedy. It also agreed to review its practices.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (22 000 777)

Statement Upheld Other 29-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr F complained that the Council failed to disclose important information to them about the birth mother of their adopted daughter, which caused uncertainty about the contact arrangements he had agreed to. We found the complaints process had taken too long but was very thorough and we considered the financial remedy should be higher. The Council has agreed to increase the payment to £250 and take steps to tighten up the operation of the complaints process for the future.

Lancashire County Council (22 008 773)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 29-Mar-2023

Summary: Mr and Mrs P are unhappy with the Council’s response to their complaint about funding adaptations to their home. The Council suggested adaptations during Mr and Mrs P’s application for a Special Guardianship Order to create an extra bedroom. The Council has agreed to consider Mr and Mrs P’s need for adaptations again.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (22 017 065)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Mar-2023

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to the complainant’s children. This is because it concerns matters which have been raised in court or are inextricably linked with those matters.

City of York Council (22 016 956)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 29-Mar-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to investigate the actions of a social worker. This is because there is no evidence of fault on the Council’s part.