Leicestershire County Council (20 001 211)

Statement Upheld Child protection 06-May-2021

Summary: Miss Y complains about the process followed by the Council when it conducted enquiries and an assessment under Section 47 of the Children Act. We find fault in the Council's initial assessment of the referral it received. This is because the Council failed to seek permission from Miss Y when it was required to do so, did not explain the process to her and failed to provide a rationale for proceeding with enquiries. On balance, we are satisfied the outcome would have likely been the same based on the retrospective rationale provided by the Council. However, the fault identified caused Miss Y some avoidable frustration, time and trouble which the Council will apologise for and pay £300.

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 008 050)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 04-May-2021

Summary: Mr F complains about his dealings with his children's social worker and Independent Reviewing Officer. I have discontinued my investigation as it is unlikely I could add to the Council's response.

London Borough of Hackney (19 017 937)

Statement Upheld Child protection 30-Apr-2021

Summary: Mr W complains the Council failed to treat him appropriately when it assessed him and his family's needs after receiving a referral raising concerns. He says its actions caused him distress and time and trouble. The Council has been asked to apologise, make payments and change procedures going forward.

London Borough of Croydon (19 007 560)

Statement Upheld Child protection 30-Apr-2021

Summary: Mrs C says the Council has not adequately remedied injustice that the Council caused her daughter, X, while she was in its care. She also says the Council did not fully investigate some of her allegations against the Council. She says Council failures have caused injustice to X who was put at risk of exploitation and have also caused her injustice, in the form of distress. There was no fault with the way the Council investigated her complaints. The investigation was thorough but the remedy offered was inadequate. We have recommended a further remedy for the fault identified by the Council.

West Berkshire Council (20 006 290)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 30-Apr-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to allocate a new social worker to her family after she told the Council she did not want to work with them. She also complained the Council conducted a Child Protection Conference incorrectly and would not acknowledge her complaints about this. She said this situation has caused her and her child, Y, distress and upset. There was no fault in the Council's actions.

Buckinghamshire Council (20 003 111)

Statement Upheld Child protection 29-Apr-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to tell him it had started to investigate concerns raised about his child's welfare. He also complains the Council failed to carry out a thorough investigation of these concerns. Mr X says the Council discriminated against him and its actions caused him unnecessary stress and financial loss. We have found fault in the Council's actions and the Council has agreed a remedy to address the injustice caused to Mr X.

Suffolk County Council (20 001 876)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 28-Apr-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council breached an undertaking on how it would describe certain events to third parties and shared inaccurate information about him. Mr X wants the Council to write to the third parties concerned to say that any information provided that contradicts the undertaking is inaccurate. The Council is not at fault and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.

Salford City Council (20 005 197)

Statement Upheld Child protection 27-Apr-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with a safeguarding referral and child protection enquiry, and its handling of his complaint about this. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council in its complaint handling, and in raising an issue about the children's care in their presence, causing injustice. The Council has agreed to remedy this by making payments to reflect time and trouble and distress caused by these faults and providing evidence of service improvements.

London Borough of Ealing (19 021 139)

Statement Upheld Child protection 19-Apr-2021

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to ensure the special educational provisions in her child's education, health and care (EHC) plan were implemented. She also complains the Council took child protection action in retaliation to her complaints. We find fault with the Council for not securing the special educational provisions set out in Ms X's child's EHC plan. We have made recommendations.

Sunderland City Council (19 018 285)

Statement Upheld Child protection 14-Apr-2021

Summary: Mrs D complained about the Council's involvement with her when her grandchildren were removed from their parents' care. She also complained the Council did not meet its own timescales when responding to her complaint. We find the Council's remedy from its statutory complaints investigation does not adequately remedy the injustice Mrs D suffered. The Council has agreed to our increased recommendation to reflect Mrs D's injustice.