London Borough of Southwark (25 006 291)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 18-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her when she was a child and as a care leaver between 1999 and 2013. This is because the complaint is late.

Milton Keynes Council (25 004 870)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of contact between her, her family and her grandchild. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is or has been the subject of court proceedings.

Gloucestershire County Council (24 002 936)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 11-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council supported her son while he was in local authority care. Based on current evidence, we have found that the Council was not at fault. It respected her wishes and made decisions about Y’s care which do not appear unreasonable. The Council was, however, at fault for keeping incomplete safeguarding records. It was also at fault for how it considered Mrs X’s complaint. Neither of these things caused her an injustice, but the Council should nonetheless take steps to improve its complaint handling in future.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 018 472)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 04-Aug-2025

Summary: We have ended our investigation into Mr X’s complaint about the involvement of the Council’s Children’s Services with his family and decisions made. An independent investigation has already investigated the Council’s actions. The Council has offered Mr X a suitable remedy for the upheld parts of his complaint. It is unlikely that further investigation of the same issues would lead to a different outcome for Mr X.

Leeds City Council (24 000 225)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 31-Jul-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to provide appropriate education to her two adopted children. The Council has already investigated the complaints and upheld them. We endorse the Council’s findings of fault which has caused avoidable distress and a loss of education for the children. The Council has accepted our recommendation for an improved personal remedy for the loss of education and avoidable distress. The Council has also agreed to review its alternative education policy. We are therefore closing the complaints.

Staffordshire County Council (25 004 182)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the actions of the Council leading to the removal of her children. This decision was subject to a court order and the matters complained of are closely linked to matters that were or could reasonably have been mentioned in court. Some of the matters directly relate to the conduct of court proceedings and we cannot investigate them. Another body is better placed than us to consider data access matters.

London Borough of Harrow (24 012 792)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss Y complains the Council did not properly investigate the injuries her child obtained whilst in Council arranged foster care. We find procedural fault which creates uncertainty about the Council’s consideration of the injuries. The Council will pay £500 in recognition of that distress and remind staff of the protocols when considering allegations made against those working with children.

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.