Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (25 005 334)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 04-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of Miss Y that the Council failed in its responsibilities towards Miss Y. The Council was at fault for failing to make findings at stage three on all complaint points, delaying in completing the statutory complaints process and delaying in completing all of the recommendations. This caused Mrs X and Miss Y distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, make payments and provide an action plan to complete recommendations.

Wiltshire Council (25 014 730)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 04-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of safeguarding matters concerning her child, and the conduct of a social worker. The Council has declined to investigate the issues further while care proceedings are ongoing and there is not enough evidence of fault in its decision. Miss X may be able to raise some of the issues she complains about in court as part of these proceedings and should she wish to pursue the complaint once they have concluded the Council has confirmed she may do so.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (25 013 891)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 27-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services’ actions as it is unlikely we could significantly add to the Council’s reply.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 014 015)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 27-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about backdated allowances for looking after a child. This is because there is not enough evidence of unremedied injustice to warrant investigation.

London Borough of Lewisham (25 014 161)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 23-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s historic complaint about events over 30 years ago when she was a looked after child. The law says we cannot investigate late complaints and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it because we could not carry out a full and fair investigation into these events now.

Devon County Council (25 003 920)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 12-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault in delaying the children’s statutory complaints procedure in Ms Y’s case. It was not at fault in the way in which it investigated her complaint at stage two and three of the procedure. We recommend the Council should remedy the uncertainty caused to Ms Y by making her an additional symbolic payment.

Hampshire County Council (25 013 104)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 11-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about children services’ actions. The Council investigated it through its Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure and we are unlikely to reach a different outcome.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 803)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about a delay in reimbursing the cost of a holiday for a looked after child. We are unlikely to achieve more than the financial payment already paid.

Leeds City Council (25 006 880)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 03-Feb-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council carried out the statutory complaint procedure. The Council was at fault for a flawed investigation. This caused Mr X frustration and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X and complete a new stage two investigation.

London Borough of Southwark (25 012 434)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 28-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council cared for her when she was a young mother in care during the 1990s. This is because the complaint is late.