Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 008 067)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a children safeguarding investigation as we are unlikely to achieve more than the Council’s complaint response. It is reasonable for Mr X to have sought a review from the Independent Review Mechanism for a fostering panel's decision.

Birmingham City Council (25 009 881)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 22-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about events which took place in the course of the breakdown of a foster placement in February 2024. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to consider it now.

Sheffield City Council (24 019 828)

Statement Upheld Fostering 21-Nov-2025

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with a staying put arrangement. The Council was at fault for failing to explain the financial aspect of the staying put arrangement, poor communication and delaying in making payments. This caused Ms X distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Ms X and make service improvements.

Darlington Borough Council (24 021 825)

Statement Upheld Fostering 20-Nov-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s investigation into safeguarding concerns raised about her as a foster carer. The Council investigated Mrs X's complaints under the statutory children’s complaints procedure without fault. However, it failed to provide an appropriate remedy to recognise the injustice the faults caused. It also delayed providing Mrs X with copies of documents which it agreed to do following the conclusion of the complaints process. The Council agreed to make a symbolic payment to Mrs X to recognise the distress and uncertainty caused.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 004 926)

Statement Upheld Fostering 14-Nov-2025

Summary: The Council was not at fault for refusing to pay Ms X its full fostering rate (including additional fees) from the date she became a kinship foster carer. This decision was in line with its policy – which says only fully approved foster carers get the full rate – and was not obviously out of step with case law and government guidance. The Council was, however, at fault for a significant delay in approving
Ms X as a foster carer. Given its policy, this meant she missed out on getting the full rate of fostering payments for several months. The Council has agreed to backdate her additional payments to the date she would have been approved were it not for the delay.

Kent County Council (25 005 767)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 12-Nov-2025

Summary: Mr X complains about a Council’s actions in safeguarding him under a Private Fostering agreement between 2015 and 2020. He considers the fault contributed to a decline of his mental health. We will not investigate this complaint because we are unlikely to find fault by the Council or achieve a meaningful outcome.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (25 007 301)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 10-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about delays by the Council carrying out the recommendations of a complaint review panel because the agreed actions are all now all either complete or underway and there is nothing more we could achieve.

London Borough of Merton (25 007 682)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 04-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Mr X’s family. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 015 753)

Statement Upheld Fostering 30-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with him and his wife, Mrs X, as foster carers. The Council was at fault for poor communication and delaying in completing a foster carer reassessment. This caused Mr and Mrs X frustration and uncertainty. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Mr and Mrs X to remedy this injustice.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (25 004 726)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 13-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about children service’s handling of an allegation against a foster carer. There are other bodies better placed to consider a social worker’s professionalism, data protection issues and X’s deregistration. We are unlikely to find fault in a complaint handling issue and the questions posed to them.