Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (21 010 581)
Statement Upheld Other 10-Apr-2022
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed finalising her child, Y's, Education, Health and Care plan and did not ensure they received provision in line with the plan. She also complained about poor complaints handling. The Council was at fault. The delays and poor service have caused Mrs X frustration and distress and Y has missed out on provision. The Council has agreed to offer Mrs X a financial remedy for the injustice caused to herself and Y.
London Borough of Brent (21 018 157)
Statement Upheld Other 28-Mar-2022
Summary: The Council is at fault for delaying consideration of this complaint under the children's statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to issue its stage two response and make a payment to the complainant for the time and trouble its delay has caused.
London Borough of Croydon (21 011 703)
Statement Not upheld Other 28-Mar-2022
Summary: Ms X complained to the Council about disability discrimination in dealing with her over an assessment of her daughter's social care needs. She complained to the Ombudsman that the Council refused to progress her complaint to the second stage of the complaints process but instead told her to make a legal claim. The Council has now decided to investigate the complaint at stage 2 of the children's social care complaints procedure. We have therefore decided to stop investigating the complaint as it would not achieve any more for Ms X at this stage. Once she has completed the complaints process she may make another complaint to the Ombudsman if she is not happy with the outcome.
Wiltshire Council (21 011 497)
Statement Not upheld Other 25-Mar-2022
Summary: Mr X is not satisfied with the Council's investigation and response to his complaint about its children's services department. He does not consider the Council properly addressed his complaint. The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation. That is because there is not enough evidence of fault, and it is unlikely we could add to the Council's investigation.
Lincolnshire County Council (21 010 646)
Statement Upheld Other 25-Mar-2022
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her son with appropriate social care support from March 2021, and failed to complete appropriate assessments of his needs. The Council was at fault as it failed to investigate Mrs X's complaint under the statutory children's complaints procedure. The Council will arrange and start a stage 2 investigation under these procedures within one month of this decision. It will also make a symbolic payment for the uncertainty and time and trouble this caused Mrs X.
Salford City Council (21 017 459)
Statement Not upheld Other 23-Mar-2022
Summary: Miss X complained the Council intended to withdraw the accommodation it provided to her and her children under the Children Act. There was no fault in how the Council made its decision to withdraw the accommodation it provided to Miss X.
Bracknell Forest Council (20 013 496)
Statement Upheld Other 09-Mar-2022
Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to complete the recommendations made at stage two and three of the children statutory complaint procedure. Ms X said this caused her significant distress. We find some fault with the Council for the delays in completing some of the recommendations. We have made some recommendations for the Council to remedy the injustice caused.
Derbyshire County Council (21 009 326)
Statement Upheld Other 02-Mar-2022
Summary: Mr and Mrs B complained that the Council did not deal with their complaint about children's services in respect of their daughter C, within the statutory timescales. We found that the Council delayed in telling Mr and Mrs B that it was including the complaint in a wider stage two investigation and delayed in progressing that investigation. We considered Mr and Mrs B have been caused some frustration and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to pay them £150.
Buckinghamshire Council (21 005 811)
Statement Upheld Other 24-Feb-2022
Summary: Mr X complained a council social worker made an improper Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) referral about him. Mr X says this has had an adverse impact on vetting for his job. The Ombudsman found fault with the Council. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman's recommendation to write a letter confirming the Council social worker made an improper referral to the LADO.
Kent County Council (21 001 933)
Statement Upheld Other 21-Feb-2022
Summary: Mrs X complained about the communication and support provided to the family and the Council's actions when it placed their son in temporary foster care. They also complained that their son overheard a discussion between professionals that he should not have. We found there was fault, but the Council's apology and actions to prevent a recurrence of the fault that occurred were a suitable remedy to the complaint.