London Borough of Barnet (24 017 942)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 18-Nov-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council delayed providing accommodation when she presented herself as homeless. She also complained the Council delayed a Child in Care review and failed to progress her stage 2 complaint in a timely manner and under the statutory complaints’ procedure. We found fault in the Council’s failure to use the statutory complaints procedure. The Council’s failure to accommodate Ms X when she first approached the Council as homeless is fault. This caused Ms X to sleep rough for four nights. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X, pay a financial remedy and carry out service recommendations.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (25 010 503)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 17-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate part of Mrs X’s complaint about the removal of her children in 2008 because the matters complained about were considered by a court. We will not investigate part of the complaint because it is late. We will not investigate the remainder because Mrs X could raise it as part of ongoing legal proceedings or raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Gloucestershire County Council (25 009 582)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 14-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s historic complaint about the Council’s actions between 1993-1997 when she was a child in its care. This is because we cannot carry out a full, fair and effective investigation into the Council’s actions now due to the very significant passage of time since the events complained about.

London Borough of Wandsworth (25 008 555)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 13-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide Miss X with housing support following her leaving care. This because an investigation would not provide a different outcome.

Norfolk County Council (25 007 630)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 12-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about savings for a looked after child. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council decided not to consider the complaint to justify us investigating.

Durham County Council (25 006 810)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 07-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaint about the care provided to him when he was a looked after child. This is because the Council has agreed to review its decision not to investigate his complaint. It would not be proportionate for us to investigate.

Devon County Council (25 007 763)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 07-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s child protection actions. This is because the matters have been the subject of family court proceedings. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaints that the Council withheld information from him and made false accusations. These issues are better dealt with by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Dorset Council (25 005 400)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 06-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about her relationship with the Council when she was a look after child and as a care leaver. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (25 006 850)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 05-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Miss X’s family. Part of the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now. We will not investigate the rest of Miss X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome and the Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider part of it.

London Borough of Hillingdon (25 007 253)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 03-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about decisions made about her child’s care. This is because the Council has commenced court proceedings, which places the issues raised outside of our jurisdiction.