South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 022 121)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Oct-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s actions in relation to her child, Z. We found fault because the Council failed to consider her complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. This caused Ms X avoidable distress and frustration. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council will now consider Ms X’s concerns through the statutory procedure and apologise for failing to do this originally. It will make a payment to her and issue guidance to staff.

Dorset Council (25 000 994)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his complaints about his care under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. We have found fault by the Council, causing injustice, in failing to: properly consider all of Mr X’s concerns and time limits for accepting them; and convene a panel review. To remedy the injustice the Council has agreed to: apologise; make a payment to reflect the upset and uncertainty caused; properly consider the concerns not yet investigated, decide whether these should now be investigated under the statutory procedure and if so, a way forward; and if not, convene a panel review now for the current stage two investigation.

Cheshire East Council (25 005 074)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 12-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint the Council did not consider her wishes when care planning for her children. The Council has agreed to consider the complaint through the statutory complaint’s procedure. Therefore it is not proportionate for us to investigate.

Suffolk County Council (25 005 784)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 10-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to the complainant’s requests for contact with a Looked After Child. This is because it would be reasonable for the complainant to take the matter to court.

London Borough of Ealing (24 021 647)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 08-Oct-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her with the correct support when she left care. She said there were delays by the Council in investigating her complaint and its offer of a symbolic financial payment was not enough to remedy the injustice caused to her. We found the Council at fault for failing to provide an appropriate remedy to Ms X. This fault caused injustice to Ms X. The Council will make a higher payment to recognise Ms X’s distress.

Norfolk County Council (25 005 714)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council refused to change his children’s social worker. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Staffordshire County Council (24 017 969)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 05-Oct-2025

Summary: we will not investigate Ms M’s complaint because the Council has now responded. The Council followed the correct procedure and explained what Ms M should do if she was still unhappy. There is no role for us.

Telford & Wrekin Council (25 008 118)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 05-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his son’s social worker. This is because there is no sign of fault in the Council’s decision not to consider his complaint whilst the case is subject to ongoing court proceedings.

London Borough of Lambeth (25 011 399)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 24-Sep-2025

Summary: We have upheld Miss X’s complaint because the Council delayed considering her complaint at stage three of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused to Miss X.

London Borough of Haringey (24 016 201)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 18-Sep-2025

Summary: Ms X complained about how she and her children were treated by the Council’s children’s social care service. We have found that the Council was at fault for a significant delay in its handling of
her complaint. This caused her an injustice, which the Council will now take action to address. However, we will not conduct a further investigation of Ms X’s complaint. An independent investigation has already found no fault in most of what the Council did. It is unlikely that further investigation of the same issue would lead to a different outcome for Ms X.