London Borough of Lewisham (22 017 218)

Statement Upheld Adoption 24-Oct-2023

Summary: Mrs Y complains about several aspects of the Council’s involvement in the prospective adoption of her children, D and E. Some of the matters complained about happened two years ago and we have not investigated them because there is no good reason to exercise our discretion. Some of the other matters have already been before the courts and we do not have jurisdiction to consider them. In the remaining parts of the complaint, we find some fault causing injustice to Mrs Y and E which the Council has agreed to remedy.

Bracknell Forest Council (22 013 508)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Oct-2023

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide appropriate support and assistance to herself and her sons and failed to follow proper procedure when carrying out assessments and child protection investigations. She also complained about failings in the Council’s communication with her and incomplete and inaccurate record keeping. The Council’s failures in communication and support for Mrs X and her family are fault. As is the failure to follow to child protection procedures and to properly record decisions. These faults have caused Mrs X an injustice.

Herefordshire Council (23 006 409)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Oct-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about assessments carried out by the Council because it concerns matters which are inextricably linked to matters considered in court. We will not investigate the disclosure of the complainant’s personal information because the Information Commissioner is better placed to do so.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (23 008 883)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 24-Oct-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide a piece of equipment the complaint asked for to help her care for her child. There is no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision.

London Borough of Bromley (23 009 466)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Oct-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about child protection action carried out in respect of the complainant’s children. The complaint is late and there are no grounds to consider it now.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 009 570)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Oct-2023

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of a social worker because it is inextricably linked to matters which are the subject of private law proceedings.

West Northamptonshire Council (23 009 819)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Oct-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of a Council social worker or Mr X’s concerns regarding meeting minutes recorded by the Council. This is because we would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

South Gloucestershire Council (23 005 373)

Report Upheld Disabled children 24-Oct-2023

Summary: The Council has failed to provide the agreed support packages to disabled children and young people in its area.

Nottinghamshire County Council (22 017 217)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 23-Oct-2023

Summary: Ms X complained the Council placed a foster child, Child Y with her without providing relevant information about Child Y’s needs and unreasonably removed Child Y from her care without notice. The Council was not at fault.

Peterborough City Council (22 018 116)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 23-Oct-2023

Summary: Mrs B says the Council failed to pay her an appropriate amount as a special guardianship allowance. The Council failed to follow Government guidance when deciding how much to pay Mrs B, failed to consider whether Mrs B had an exceptional case, wrongly stopped the payments without notice, failed to consider whether it was appropriate to deduct child benefit from the special guardianship allowance and delayed providing a breakdown of how it had calculated the financial support. An apology, payment to Mrs B, reconsideration of whether to deduct child benefit from her allowance, a review of the Council’s special guardianship policy and training for officers is satisfactory remedy.