Bristol City Council (25 001 363)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 30-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about how the Council has exercised its safeguarding duties to Miss X’s child. The law prevents us from investigating a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court.

Wiltshire Council (25 000 717)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 29-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s placement of a young person with the complainant as a foster carer. This is because the complaint concerns matters which are for the courts to decide, and it would be reasonable for the complainant to take them to court.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 000 505)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 26-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the alleged attitude of a social worker in taking three and a half days to make a phone call. The situation is unlikely to have been an emergency and there is not enough evidence of fault or injustice to warrant our further involvement.

Devon County Council (25 001 507)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 22-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the content of a report the Council prepared for court. This is because the law prevents us from investigating a complaint about what happened in court.

Suffolk County Council (24 011 718)

Statement Upheld Fostering 21-May-2025

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained the Council failed to consider their human rights and the fostering services national minimum standards during the Local Authority Designated Officer process. They also say the Council did not give them an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them until it concluded the process. We find the Council was at fault for failing to follow its guidance and tell Mr and Mrs X about the allegations before it concluded the process. This caused Mr and Mrs X distress, upset and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to apologise to Mr and Mrs X, make a payment to them and implement service improvements.

Devon County Council (24 009 233)

Statement Upheld Fostering 19-May-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with foster carer payments. The Council was at fault for having unclear policies in place and failing to respond fully to Mr X’s complaint. This caused Mr X distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, make payments and provide evidence that it has cancelled invoices.

Norfolk County Council (24 008 885)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 30-Apr-2025

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain about a LADO investigation and the removal of a child they were fostering. There was no fault in the Council’s response to allegations by a child Mr and Mrs X fostered.

Leeds City Council (24 019 943)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 15-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to conclude its consideration of a complaint by a former foster carer. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Hampshire County Council (24 019 935)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 13-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council was at fault in ceasing the complainant’s foster care payments. This is because investigation would not add anything significant to the response the Council has already made, or lead to a different outcome.

London Borough of Hackney (24 018 959)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 26-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling and decision to end a fostering placement. The complaint is late and we are unlikely to add anything to the investigation the Council carried out or achieve the outcomes Mrs X wants.