Suffolk County Council (24 003 605)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 16-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that fault on the Council’s part caused the complainant to incur legal costs. This is because we could not do so without considering what happened in court, which we cannot do by law.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (23 014 118)

Statement Upheld Fostering 11-Jul-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council mishandled child protection enquiries by incorrectly recording sensitive details about him and misrepresenting what happened. We found the Council was not at fault for commencing enquiries. However, it did not follow correct procedure as it did not tell Mr X about the enquiries or the outcome. We found no fault in the Council’s recording of the enquiries, but there was an error in a later review report which the Council will correct.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (24 002 884)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 10-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about a fostering placement and a child protection investigation following it. Mr X could have approached us sooner, and there is thus no good reason to exercise the discretion available to us to consider these late matters.

Dorset Council (24 002 166)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 07-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions when it deregistered Mr X as a foster carer. Parts of Mr X’s complaint are late and there is another body better suited to consider the other parts of his complaint.

Kent County Council (23 013 164)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 26-Jun-2024

Summary: Mrs X, a former foster carer, complained about the Council’s response to allegations made against her and the way it removed children from her care. We did not find the Council to be at fault because it followed the correct procedure.

Peterborough City Council (23 010 618)

Statement Upheld Fostering 20-Jun-2024

Summary: We found fault by the Council on Mrs D’s complaint about how she was dealt with following allegations from her foster child. Concerns were not consistently raised with her, a serious allegation was not properly dealt with, there was a failure to follow procedures, and she was not given information about key developments with the investigation or given clear information about procedures. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

East Sussex County Council (23 015 052)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 19-Jun-2024

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complained about the Council’s handling of their application to become respite foster carers. They say the Council unreasonably refused their application despite the fact they have fully cooperated with the process and given as much as information as they can. We do not find fault with the Council’s decision making.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 557)

Statement Upheld Fostering 16-Jun-2024

Summary: There was fault the Council told Mrs X it had created new skills banding awards, impacting on her role as a foster carer. That fault caused Mrs X an injustice because it unnecessarily raised her expectation about an increase in salary she may have benefited from. There was also fault in how the Council communicated with her about this and this caused Mrs X unnecessary inconvenience. The Council had already apologised and has agreed to take additional steps to fully remedy Mrs X’s injustice.

South Gloucestershire Council (24 001 347)

Statement Upheld Fostering 11-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council conducted a virtual meeting. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

South Gloucestershire Council (24 003 053)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 06-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s alleged failure to provide financial assistance to Mr X in relation to his status as a foster carer. This is because the complaint relates to events that took place more than 12 months ago; it would have been reasonable for Mr X to bring the complaint to us at the time.