Milton Keynes Council (24 001 991)

Statement Upheld Fostering 22-Jul-2025

Summary: We found no fault on most of Ms Y’s complaints against the Council about when it removed two sets of foster children from her care. The investigation of the allegations against her was done in line with procedures, there was no fault with the decisions to remove the children, and it was entitled to hold an early household review of her fostering status which was done without fault. It accepted it failed to send her confirmation of a variation to her terms of approval as a carer and failed to ensure she received all the supervision she should have done. These failures were fault and caused her an injustice. The Council previously agreed to pay her £250. It also agreed to review why the failures happened and ensure procedures are in place and followed in the future.

Wakefield City Council (25 002 216)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 17-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about a social worker’s report to a Standards of Care investigation. The Council has declined to investigate Miss X’s complaint as it was not involved in the production of the disputed report or the decision to deregister Miss X as a foster carer. We cannot achieve the outcome Miss X wants.

Cheshire East Council (24 016 531)

Statement Upheld Fostering 10-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council’s children’s services department did not effectively communicate with her when her child was placed into voluntary care arranged by the Council. We found fault because the Council failed to consider her complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. This caused Miss X avoidable distress and frustration. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to consider Miss X’s concerns through the statutory procedure and apologise for failing to do this originally. It has also agreed to make a payment to her and issue guidance to staff.

Staffordshire County Council (24 013 139)

Statement Not upheld Fostering 03-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr X and Mr Y complained about the Council’s biased and inaccurate information which led to its decision to remove their foster child from their care. They also complained about a lack of support and the Council withholding information. We do not find the Council was at fault.

Staffordshire County Council (24 013 866)

Statement Upheld Fostering 02-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not deal properly with a safeguarding investigation regarding a foster family. The Council acted disproportionately, and unprofessionally. Miss X suffered avoidable distress. The Council should pay Miss X £1500.

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.