Norfolk County Council (24 002 229)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 22-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services reply to his complaint. It is reasonable to expect Mr X to have requested a stage three review panel hearing on time. And it is unlikely we would criticise its decision to refuse a late request.

Milton Keynes Council (23 021 358)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 21-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about what the Council may have told Mr X before he sought a Special Guardianship Order. This matter is not separable from matters that formed part of court action, and any failure by his legal representative to explain the options available to him at that time would be a matter he should take up with that person and then approach the Legal Ombudsman if he remains dissatisfied with the response.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (23 010 632)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 11-Jul-2024

Summary: The Council was at fault for paying Miss B a special guardianship allowance at the wrong rate between 2015 and 2021. This meant she missed out on a significant amount of allowance. The Council has agreed to backdate her missed payments.

Leeds City Council (24 002 486)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 02-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about false allegations made against her in care proceedings for her niece because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about matters that have been considered in court. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council raising concerns about the care of her children. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late and I see no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (24 003 356)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 01-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the accuracy of information provided to the court in private care proceedings by Council social workers. As a court has ordered the information in the form of a section 7 report, its preparation and content is outside our legal jurisdiction.

Manchester City Council (23 013 249)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 26-Jun-2024

Summary: Miss B complained the Council failed to offer appropriate advice or support to her, after her grandchild ‘C’ was left in her care. We upheld the complaint finding the Council delayed carrying out an assessment which found C was a child in need and in treating Miss B as a kinship foster carer. These faults caused distress to Miss B and a loss of fostering allowance payments. The Council has accepted these findings and at the end of this statement we set out action it has agreed to remedy this injustice.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 011 592)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 19-Jun-2024

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not dealt properly with Childrens Social Care. The Council wrongly assessed the nature of the care arrangements and did not complete a review of financial support needed. Mrs X suffered financial hardship. The Council should complete a review of financial support.

Kent County Council (23 017 176)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 02-Jun-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of a social worker. The matters complained of are not separable from matters that were subject to court action. There is another body better placed than us to consider any potential data breaches separate from court proceedings.

Manchester City Council (23 015 663)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 29-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council has backtracked on financially supporting a Special Guardianship Order for her granddaughter for several years. This is a late complaint. Mrs X could have raised her concerns with the Ombudsman sooner and it is unlikely we would now be able to carry out an effective investigation. We do not consider it appropriate to exercise discretion to investigate Mrs X’s complaint outside of normal timeframes.

Devon County Council (23 020 449)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 23-May-2024

Summary: Ms C complained about the Council’s failure to refund deductions of child benefit from her special guardian’s allowance back to May 2019, following the publication of our public interest report on a similar complaint. We consider the Council should deal with the complaint first through the statutory complaints procedure.