London Borough of Southwark (24 021 375)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 09-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to regard the complainant as a kinship carer and her granddaughter as a looked-after child. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Cambridgeshire County Council (24 022 570)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 08-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s this complaint about the Council’s assessment of his child’s foster carer. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is the subject of court proceedings. We also cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

London Borough of Havering (24 008 441)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 30-Apr-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council manged her savings as a looked after child. There was fault in how the Council delayed transferring Miss X’s savings to her Child Trust Fund account and how it failed to provide Miss X with clear information about her savings. This caused Miss X avoidable distress for which the Council agreed to apologise and pay her a financial remedy. It also agreed to review its policy and practices around savings for looked after children.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (24 008 242)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 28-Apr-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to fulfil its duties towards her as a Looked After Child. She said the Council failed to involve her in discussions about her care planning and whether it could continue to accommodate her. Ms X also said the Council’s decision that she was not entitled to a pathway plan, personal advisor, or ongoing support, was wrong. We have found the Investigating Officer’s stage two report failed to fully address identified injustice to Ms X. We have also found the Council at fault for inconsistencies in its adjudication response and for failing to show it properly considered whether it needed consent to support Ms X. The Council has agreed to pay a symbolic financial remedy to recognise Ms X’s lost opportunity to benefit from the support of personal advisors at a critical time. The Council has also agreed to review its decision on whether Ms X should have kept her status as an eligible and relevant child.

Lancashire County Council (24 006 809)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 27-Apr-2025

Summary: Mrs B complained about how the Council handled care and contact arrangements for her grandchildren. We have not investigated all aspects of the complaint because some matters have been considered by the court. The Council took longer than expected to arrange therapy for Mrs B as recommended by the court. It cannot show that it considered the timing of the therapy during this delay, nor that it explained to Mrs B why it was taking so long. This caused Mrs B significant distress. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs B and make a symbolic payment to recognise the impact of the delay.

Cambridgeshire County Council (24 018 528)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 25-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council completed an assessment which includes false information about the complainant. The complaint is late and there are no grounds for us to consider it now, and our intervention would not achieve the outcome the complainant wants.

Liverpool City Council (24 005 716)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 16-Apr-2025

Summary: Miss Y complains about her experiences as a care leaver, particularly around the standard of accommodation provided to her and the Council’s failure to properly consider an allegation she made against a staff member at her placement. Miss Y complained to the Council, but the investigation was not robust and did not offer an appropriate personal remedy. We find fault causing injustice which the Council has agreed to acknowledge with a payment of £3750.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 010 847)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 07-Apr-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Councils poor communication and failure to meet key timescales for Y to transfer onto the next school. We find the Council at fault for failing to keep Mrs X updated about Y’s education and placement. This caused Mrs X distress and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mrs X.

Devon County Council (24 012 631)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 07-Apr-2025

Summary: Ms X complained on behalf of Y, a looked after child. She says the Council failed to properly consider Y’s complaint about its handling of a child in care review and how Y’s placement dealt with their belongings. The Council failed to properly consider Y’s stage one complaint and the impact of its failings on Y. The Council should apologise, make a payment to Y and ensure it carries out the identified service improvements.

Birmingham City Council (24 009 277)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 31-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint about her experience as a looked-after child between 2005 and 2010. This is because significant time has passed since and we could not complete a robust investigation of this historic matter.