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.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 009 478)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 30-Mar-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council delayed investigating her complaint via the statutory children’s complaint procedure and failed to carry out recommendations it agreed to as part of the process. Ms X says the Council’s actions caused her avoidable stress and frustration. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to provide an apology and financial remedy to Ms X and to carry out the actions it agreed to as part of the statutory complaints process.

Lancashire County Council (24 019 858)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 28-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in seeking a renewed passport for the child looked after by Mrs X. As it is always necessary to ensure a person meets the passport and entry requirements for an overseas destination before booking a holiday, investigation would be unlikely to lead to a finding that fault by the Council caused the claimed injustice.

Surrey County Council (24 004 014)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 28-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with her grandchild, following her daughter’s death. The courts are better placed to consider care arrangements for Miss X’s grandchild. We also could not add to the Council’s complaint responses to Miss X or achieve the outcomes she wants.

Swindon Borough Council (24 020 048)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 27-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters related to her children’s care since 2010. Miss X’s complaint is late with no good reason to exercise discretion.

Milton Keynes Council (24 017 950)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 25-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We have upheld Mr X’s complaint as the Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (24 017 368)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 24-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr & Mrs X’s complaint that the Council plan to move their child to a new care home. This is because the matter forms part of court proceedings. Their complaint about the education provision for their child is premature as it has not been considered under the Council’s complaints procedure.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 017 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 21-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about historic matters when Miss X was a child in the Council’s care. We could not carry out a robust investigation and we could not reach any view about the causes of the health problems to which Miss X refers.

London Borough of Redbridge (24 010 962)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 19-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council refused services to her disabled son, Y. The Council was at fault for refusing to consider her complaint properly under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. This caused Mrs X frustration. It will now consider her complaint at stage two of the statutory children’s complaints procedure.

Surrey County Council (24 017 618)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alledged failure by the Council to safeguard the complainant from harm when she was a child between 1999 and 2007. This is because it is not the role of the Ombudsman to investigate historical issues and, given the passage of time, we do not consider there is a realistic prospect of reaching a sound, fair, and meaningful decision.