Salford City Council (24 023 262)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 08-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that he was incorrectly advised by the Council to seek a Parental Responsibility Order. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion now.

London Borough of Croydon (24 010 929)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 05-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss B complained that the Council had failed to properly consult her or provide sufficient support when a relative (E) lived with her for three months. It also delayed in responding to her complaint about the matter. We found the Council should have contacted Miss B when it was aware E was living there, to discuss the arrangements and offer support. The failure to do so caused Miss B distress and financial hardship. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay her an additional £250.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (24 022 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 28-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters involving her stepchild. We could not add to the complaint responses the Council has already provided. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider Miss X’s complaints about how the Council has processed personal data.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 172)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 27-May-2025

Summary: The Council was not at fault for how it calculated Mrs X’s special guardianship allowance. The deductions it made from the allowance were consistent with current government guidance.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (24 012 072)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 19-May-2025

Summary: Miss D complained that the Council delayed progressing grant-funded adaptations to her home. As a result, her family has been overcrowded for over four years. The Council has accepted there was delay. It has agreed to make a payment to Miss D to remedy the distress caused.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (24 011 358)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 18-May-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council incorrectly deducted the value of benefits she claimed from payments it made to her for caring for two children under a residency order between 2010 and 2019. We ended the investigation because Ms X’s complaint was late and there was insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 470)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 15-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about payment of fostering allowances. This is because the complaint is late, and there is no good reason for the delay in complaining to us.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (23 017 549)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 11-May-2025

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained the Council failed to respond to their contacts about caring for young family members when they were taken into care. They also complained about contact arrangements. We found there was some fault in communication and responsiveness. This caused upset and frustration. However, it did not lead to the children being placed with foster carers when this would not have otherwise been the case.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 019 016)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 06-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We have upheld Miss X’s complaint as the Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure.

Lancashire County Council (24 004 288)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 13-Apr-2025

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council wrongly claims she is caring for her grandchildren as a private arrangement and has failed to provide appropriate support. We found there is no evidence of fault in the way the Council carried out the investigation under the statutory complaints procedure. The Council has accepted and acted on the investigations findings and recommendations and we cannot add anything significant to the investigation.