Middlesbrough Borough Council (24 013 074)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 15-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to recognise his immigration status when he was a looked after child and failed to renew his visa before it expired. Mr X said this meant he overstayed his visa and is unable to apply for indefinite leave to remain for some years. Mr X says, as a result, he cannot afford to go to university as he will be charged as an overseas student and the delays caused significant distress. Mr X would like the Council to meet his education costs. There was fault in the way the Council did not complete the actions from the statutory complaint procedure. This frustrated Mr X. The Council has agreed to apologise, complete the actions from the statutory complaint process and provide guidance to its staff.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 001 097)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint about her dealings with the Council in connection with the care of her daughter because the Council has addressed all her complaints and there is nothing more we could add.

London Borough of Bexley (24 016 952)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 10-Jul-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to appropriately manage her child’s care since accommodating her child under a Section 20 agreement. We found fault with the Council failing to progress to stage 3 of the children’s statutory complaint procedure and for delays in producing the stage 2 response. The Council agreed to consider Ms X’s complaint under stage 3 of the children’s statutory complaint procedure. The Council also agreed to apologise to Ms X and pay her £150 as a symbolic gesture for the avoidable frustration and inconvenience its handling of this matter caused. The Council also agreed to review how it handles complaints under the children’s statutory complaints procedure and provide training to staff.

Kent County Council (25 002 712)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 30-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council assessed whether he could care for his grandchild. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is the subject of court proceedings. It would be reasonable for Mr X to ask the court to consider his suitability to care for his grandchild and have contact with his other grandchildren.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 003 752)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 26-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to consider her complaint about historical allegations of abuse. The significant passage of time means it is no longer possible to complete a robust investigation or provide a meaningful remedy.

Gloucestershire County Council (24 004 646)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 26-Jun-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council’s consideration of a complaint she raised through the children’s statutory complaint procedure about how the Council cared for a child, Y, was flawed. We found the Council was at fault when it overturned some of the statutory investigation’s findings, and did not provide an appropriate remedy to Y for the complaints it did uphold. This included that Y became isolated and institutionalised while they remained in an unregistered placement for more than four years. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Y.

North Yorkshire Council (25 001 036)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 23-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s historic complaint that the Council was complicit with child abuse when he was a child in its care. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Staffordshire County Council (25 003 918)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 22-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s experience as a care leaver. This is because the complaint is late and there is no good reason for the delay in complaining to us.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (25 001 435)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 15-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with her child, who is in care. The law prevents us investigating how the Council conducted court action. Miss X could also reasonably have raised her concerns in court.

Manchester City Council (24 012 289)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 12-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s care of her when she was a looked after child and the way it handled her complaint. Miss X said she felt blamed for things that happened when she was a child. She said this affected her mental health, and caused unnecessary and avoidable distress. We find the Council at fault and this caused injustice. The Council will apologise to Miss X.