London Borough of Bexley (25 018 551)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 26-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions relating to a Looked After Child. The Council has already investigated X’s complaint under the three-stage Children Act 1989 complaint procedure, and it is unlikely we would find fault in the way it conducted that investigation or considered the findings. Additionally, any injustice caused by delays in that procedure has already been remedied by the Council’s offer of a symbolic financial remedy.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 018 724)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 26-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the care of his grandchildren because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation, and nothing we could add to the Council’s response. We cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

London Borough of Newham (25 022 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 26-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to consider her complaint about historical allegations of abuse. This is because, given the passage of time, we do not consider there is a realistic prospect of reaching a sound, fair and meaningful decision.

London Borough of Harrow (25 018 483)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his claim the Council failed to provide leaving care support. The events are more than six years old and there are no good reasons the late complaint rule should not apply.

Northumberland County Council (25 020 024)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 20-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his case when he was a child in its care over 20 years ago. The complaint is historic and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider it now. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to consider his historic complaint via its complaints procedure. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

Kent County Council (25 017 112)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Apr-2026

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 which is a proportionate way to resolve the complaint.

London Borough of Ealing (25 018 120)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint about the care his son receives from the Council because there is not significant enough injustice to justify our involvement, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr F wants.

Hampshire County Council (25 007 418)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 13-Apr-2026

Summary: We have completed our investigation into how the Council arranged contact between Miss X and her looked-after child. This is because we find no fault. We will not investigate whether the Council gave Miss X documents it agreed to years before. This is because it is too late.

London Borough of Brent (25 017 453)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 06-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council preventing court-ordered contact with her child. This is because it would have been reasonable for Ms X to have taken the matter back to court.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (25 015 692)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 31-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about special guardianship order payments. These payments stopped in 2023 and there are no good reasons we should disapply the late complaint rule.