Leeds City Council (24 002 291)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 23-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has refused to consider the complainants concerns about the actions of social workers. This is because investigation by the Ombudsman would achieve no worthwhile outcome.

Warwickshire County Council (24 003 344)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 23-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council blocking Miss X’s complaint. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant investigation.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 258)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 22-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the accuracy of a child and family assessment. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed. And we are unlikely to achieve a significantly different remedy than the Council provided via its complaints’ procedure.

London Borough of Camden (24 004 606)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 22-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about her child being removed from her care and an adoption order being made because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about matters that have been subject to, and decided in, court proceedings. We have no discretion to do so.

Telford & Wrekin Council (23 014 966)

Statement Upheld Child protection 21-Jul-2024

Summary: Z complained the Council failed to safeguard their child, Child A. Z said the Council did not respond to a safeguarding referral made by Child A’s school, leaving them without support. Z also complained about poor communication and complaints handling. The Council processed the Prevent referral in line with government guidance and was not at fault. The Council was at fault for poor communication and delayed stage 1 complaints handling which caused Z frustration, uncertainty and time and trouble. The Council has already apologised and offered a symbolic payment for the poor stage 1 complaints handling and reviewed its communication procedures to prevent reoccurrence of the faults. This remedied the injustice caused.

London Borough of Redbridge (23 019 680)

Statement Upheld Child protection 21-Jul-2024

Summary: Miss F complained the Council had failed to keep her siblings safe from neglect and harm and as a result has left her brother homeless and her sisters at risk of harm. We found fault by the Council as it had not dealt with this complaint under the statutory children’s complaints process. It has agreed to do so now. It will also make a symbolic payment to Miss F to remedy the time and trouble she has been caused and review information about Miss F’s siblings to determine if safeguarding enquiries are necessary.

West Northamptonshire Council (24 003 591)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 21-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council’s children’s services wrote a biased assessment. This is because the complaint is made late, and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate the issues raised now.

Dorset Council (24 002 505)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 17-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about child protection action taken by the Council. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant our involvement.

London Borough of Croydon (24 002 810)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 17-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot by law investigate this complaint about the adequacy of the Council’s child protection actions in respect of the complainant’s children, or its role in private custody proceedings. This is because the issued raised have been subject to court action. We have no legal jurisdiction to investigate a complaint where the issues raised are subject to court proceedings.

Birmingham City Council (24 004 567)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 17-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s child protection investigation in relation to the complainant’s child, as well as its decision to initiate care proceedings in court. This is because we have no legal jurisdiction to investigate a complaint where the issues raised are subject to court proceedings.