Gloucestershire County Council (20 004 771)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 16-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the care of his daughter in foster care, about the Council's unjustified restrictions on his contact with her and about the Council's poor communications and complaints handling. The Council is only at fault in its communications. It had already remedied its fault with an apology to Mr X before he approached us.

Norfolk County Council (19 020 127)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 05-Mar-2021

Summary: There was fault in how the Council arranged alternative education provision for a looked after child, after problems with their behaviour led to exclusions and a foster placement broke down. The Council has agreed to make a suitable payment to remedy the injustice this caused.

London Borough Of Barnet (20 001 487)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 26-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr B complained about the actions the Council took in respect of his complaints about the service he received as a care leaver. We found the Council was at fault and should have considered Mr B's complaint at stage three of the statutory complaints procedure. But we consider the action taken by the Council including the payment offered (£1500), is sufficient to put matters right.

Norfolk County Council (20 002 136)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 19-Jan-2021

Summary: There is no evidence of fault in how the Council managed the educational provision for a looked after child, Y. There was a delay in assessing Y's Special Educational Needs, however this did not cause an injustice.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 017 225)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 15-Jan-2021

Summary: The Council considered S's wish to increase contact with his parents and siblings, but it failed to arrange his reviews for a time and place he would be able to attend without having to miss school and did not ensure the Independent Reviewing Officer spoke to S before the reviews. The Council has agreed to take action to ensure S fully understands its reasons for not increasing contact and to prevent similar failings in future.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (19 020 059)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 05-Jan-2021

Summary: there is no fault that has caused Mr A injustice in relation to his complaint about the actions of the Council's children's services team.

Southampton City Council (19 014 061)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 17-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr S complained, through his representative, the Council failed to properly plan for his release from custody and failed to support him as a child in need. This caused him distress because he did not have a suitable address or support plan, which would have allowed him to take advantage of early release. He did not have a permanent address or full-time education in place from his automatic release date even though he was only fifteen years of age at the time. There is evidence of fault by the Council and it has been asked to apologise, make payments and amend its procedures so it begins planning for children's releases earlier.

Telford & Wrekin Council (19 009 991)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 16-Dec-2020

Summary: There is no evidence of fault by the Council in how it considered Miss X's complaints about the welfare of her son and the use of his disability living allowance by his foster carers.

Isle of Wight Council (19 008 131)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 23-Nov-2020

Summary: The Council failed to provide support to Miss Y as a care leaver, particularly with finding suitable accommodation, after it failed to recognise she was a looked after child between the ages of 16 and 18. To remedy the injustice caused to Miss Y it will apologise, revise its procedures, assess what support Miss Y should receive as a care leaver, and make a payment to acknowledge the distress and uncertainty caused by fault.

Swindon Borough Council (19 010 610)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council's failure to provide information about her deceased daughter's care while she was a Looked after Child. This caused significant distress to Mrs X. The Ombudsman finds the Council to be at fault because it was unable to show it made any meaningful enquiries about what happened the night Mrs X's daughter died. To remedy the injustice caused to Mrs X, the Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic payment to her, make enquiries about what happened and reflect on its practices.