Manchester City Council (25 013 216)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 20-Jul-2026

Summary: We find no fault in the way the Council handled Miss X’s complaint about lack of respite care for her foster child. The Council found fault and injustice, apologised, made a payment to Miss X, and improved its service, as the statutory complaint investigation recommended. The Council has agreed to make a further payment to remedy some outstanding injustice.

Hertfordshire County Council (26 009 862)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 16-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to investigate Miss X’s concerns, about how it dealt with her as a Looked after Child. The complaint relates to matters which happened over 12 months ago, and it is unlikely we would find fault in the Council’s decision, not to consider it. Nor will we consider it either, because it is a late complaint and I have not seen any good reasons why a complaint could not have been made to us sooner.

Middlesbrough Borough Council (26 009 054)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 08-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council safeguarded him when he was a Looked After Child. The complaint is late.

London Borough of Hillingdon (26 008 810)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 06-Jul-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council safeguarded her when she was a Looked After Child and into her early adulthood. The complaint relates to events from more than 12 months ago and it is unlikely it would be possible to obtain the evidence to effectively investigate now. Additionally, the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the data protection part of Miss X’s complaint.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (25 012 071)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 06-Jul-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault in its adjudication of Miss X’s complaint that followed a stage three Panel review as part of the statutory children’s complaints procedure. The Council’s fault caused Miss X and her family frustration and uncertainty and put Miss X to time and trouble. The Council should agree actions to remedy the injustice caused and to improve its service.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (25 022 236)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 02-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how foster carers spent Disability Living Allowance. The council has already examined Miss X’s complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure, and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, so it is not warranted.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 022 564)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 29-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a financial remedy offered by the Council. There is nothing we could add to the Council’s response. We cannot achieve the outcome Ms X wants.

Worcestershire County Council (25 015 887)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 22-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate part of Mr X’s complaint about support provided to him as a child because the complaints were either previously considered by the Ombudsman or they are late. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about data handling because the Information Commissioner is better suited. We will also not investigate the complaints because it is reasonable for Mr X to use his right to take the matter to court to secure the outcome he seeks.

London Borough of Haringey (25 014 801)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 18-Jun-2026

Summary: Ms X complained about how the Council handled her housing situation when she became homeless and its failure to complete the recommendation made during the stage 3 of the statutory complaints procedure. There was fault by the Council for its delays with completing the statutory complaints procedure and its failure to complete the recommendation made by the review panel at stage 3. This caused injustice to Ms X. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice caused.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 021 913)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 15-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint about the care of his daughter because there is not enough evidence of fault and nothing to be gained from further investigation.