London Borough of Wandsworth (25 003 066)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council failed to act to safeguard her child. This is because her complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion to consider it now.

North Yorkshire Council (25 003 495)

Statement Not upheld Other 20-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council was duty bound to make a safeguarding referral when it had concerns for Mrs X’s child, Y, and investigate the referral in line with its safeguarding processes. The Council was not at fault.

Plymouth City Council (25 011 532)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about child protection. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

Somerset Council (25 011 549)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about children services’ actions. The Information Commissioner’s Office and Social Work England are better placed.

Birmingham City Council (25 012 099)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about children services’ actions as a Court is considering or has decided the children's care arrangements.

Hampshire County Council (25 012 529)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate most of Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to intervene in a disagreement about childcare arrangements. Mrs X applied to a court to consider the issue, and the law says we cannot investigate matters which have been considered by a court. We will not investigate Mrs X’s concerns about how the Council responded to her safeguarding concerns because this is likely to form part of the court proceedings.

London Borough of Croydon (25 013 373)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of child protection matters. The issues raised relate to court proceedings. The law says we cannot investigate complaints about court action or what happened in court.

London Borough of Croydon (25 017 424)

Statement Upheld Other 20-Jan-2026

Summary: We have upheld Ms X’s complaint because the Council delayed considering her complaint at stage two of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused to Ms X.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 009 818)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Jan-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about children’s services’ actions. The law prevents us from investigating complaints that have been part of court proceedings. Nor will we investigate the other parts of Mr X’s complaint relating to how the Council considered his complaint. Part of the issues he raises here are now late and it would have been reasonable for Mr X to ask the Council for a review of the complaint investigation. Additionally, we cannot achieve the outcome he seeks.

Luton Borough Council (24 017 797)

Statement Upheld Adoption 16-Jan-2026

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain that although the Council agreed to provide adoption support for life for Miss Y and Miss Z it wrongly stopped allowance payments for Miss Y and reduced payments for Miss Z without any notice or communication with the family. The statutory complaints investigation upheld all of Mr and Mrs X’s complaints and found fault with the Council's actions. These faults caused significant distress and uncertainty for Mr and Mrs X and detrimentally affected their wellbeing. The Council should apologise, make payments and take action to remedy this.