Devon County Council (23 001 435)

Report Upheld Other 08-Aug-2024

Summary: Miss B complained on behalf of her son, Mr C, that the Council failed to ensure an effective transition of social work services when he turned 18. In particular, that he had to leave a children’s home placement and move to a supported living placement 30 miles away. This left him further from his family and place of education, for which the Council initially failed to provide transport. Miss B says as a result Mr C became isolated from her and missed half a term of education. Miss B says the Council knew Mr C experiences anxiety and has a history of self-harming and its actions put him at increased risk of these behaviours. Miss B says she also suffered her own distress being unable to see Mr C as often as before.

Suffolk County Council (24 004 687)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about matters that have been, or are being, considered in court proceedings. We have no discretion to do so.

Leeds City Council (24 003 880)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the contents of a report. This is because a court ordered the report and therefore it’s preparation and contents fall outside of our jurisdiction

Telford & Wrekin Council (24 007 213)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council made changes to the support in place for two children. This is because further investigation would not add to the investigation carried out by the Council.

London Borough of Haringey (24 002 637)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s communication with her about her child’s education and welfare, its response to her report of safeguarding concerns and its failure to enforce a court order. There is insufficient evidence of fault and the courts are better placed to resolve any dispute about where Ms X’s child lives.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (23 011 758)

Statement Upheld Other 29-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs Y complains on behalf of Miss X about the way in which the Council managed her family’s move out the Council’s area in April 2023. She said that because of the Council’s failures the family suffered avoidable distress and the children missed out on education and crucial social services support. We found the Council was at fault for the delay in transferring some of the educational documents to the new Council and the delay in holding a transfer meeting. The Council agreed to our recommendations on what it should do to remedy the injustice its actions caused Miss X and her family.

Staffordshire County Council (24 003 757)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about alleged abuse of Mr X’s child and victimisation of him by social workers. The matters complained of are not separable from matters that have been or could reasonably be raised in court.

Essex County Council (24 003 969)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot by law investigate this complaint about the Council’s child protection assessment which informed the a court decision to remove the complainant’s child from his care. This is because the issues raised are subject to active legal proceedings and relate to decisions made by the court.

North Yorkshire Council (23 016 474)

Statement Upheld Other 23-Jul-2024

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not carry out the agreed actions from its stage three review of her complaint and did not provide a remedy for the injustice caused. Miss X says this has caused further distress. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to consider and provide a suitable remedy for the fault found during the statutory complaints process. The Council has agreed to pay Miss X a financial remedy and carry out service improvements.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (24 003 147)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 22-Jul-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate most of Mr X’s complaints about the Council’s actions during court proceedings because the issues complained about have been considered by a court and the law says we cannot investigate. We did not investigate part of Mr X’s complaint because it is too closely related to the matters considered by a court.