Other

Cumbria County Council (18 012 950)

Statement Upheld Other 03-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr Y complained the Council failed to tell him, in a timely manner, whether he could have contact with his niece and nephew who lived in the Council's area. The Council was at fault for the time it took to share its view with him and for the distress caused. The Council has been asked to apologise and make a financial settlement.

Sunderland City Council (19 002 360)

Statement Upheld Other 30-Aug-2019

Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to consider safeguarding concerns she raised in relation to her grandchildren. The Council investigated her complaint at Stage 1 of the statutory Children Act complaints procedure but it refused Miss X's request to proceed to Stage 2 of the procedure, an independent investigation. This is fault. The Council has agreed to arrange a Stage 2 investigation without further delay.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (18 017 459)

Statement Upheld Other 29-Aug-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council's decision to stop support for her children because it considered she had not applied to the Home Office for leave to remain in the UK. There was fault in how the Council made this decision. It has agreed to apologise to Miss X, pay her £200 and review its future approach to considering whether there is evidence of applications to the Home Office.

London Borough of Newham (18 007 418)

Statement Upheld Other 27-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr X complains of failings by the Council in dealing with disclosures by his children and in managing a contact session. He says this has left them at risk of harm. While there was no fault in most of the matters complained of, a worker arrived slightly late for the contact session, leading to some awkwardness. However, the worker's apology is sufficient for the limited injustice caused to Mr X.

London Borough of Sutton (19 003 792)

Statement Upheld Other 15-Aug-2019

Summary: Miss B complains that the Council has not properly dealt with her request for assistance as a person with no recourse to public funds. The Council was at fault because it delayed assessing Miss B's needs. Miss B has missed out on financial support. The Council should apologise to Miss B and pay her £302 for the financial support she did not receive.

London Borough of Merton (18 019 708)

Statement Upheld Other 15-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr F complains about the Council's handling of a child protection investigation and conference. Mr F and the Council have agreed a settlement. I do not consider further investigation by the Ombudsman would lead to a different outcome.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (19 000 744)

Statement Upheld Other 12-Aug-2019

Summary: Mr C complained the Council failed to write him a letter to acknowledge he was safeguarding his children even though he was breaching a court order. When he made complaints, the Council failed to deal with them appropriately. There is evidence of fault and the Council has been asked to apologise and make a payment to him and to ensure people answering complaints are appropriately trained.

Birmingham City Council (18 017 509)

Statement Upheld Other 12-Aug-2019

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has failed to properly consider requests for extra direct payments for her son's care in light of clearly changing circumstances. The Ombudsman found there was some fault in the Council's process. Although the overall decisions are ones it was entitled to take, our investigation has identified fault which only came about because of Ms X's complaint to us. This caused Ms X an injustice in the form of her time and trouble and the Council agreed with our recommendation to remedy this with an apology and financial payment.

Telford & Wrekin Council (18 010 513)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Aug-2019

Summary: Mrs F complained the Council failed to meet her granddaughter's needs when it took her into care. The Council has not considered the complaint at stage two of the statutory children's complaints procedure and there are no grounds for the Ombudsman to consider the complaint early. The Council has agreed to conduct a stage two investigation.

Essex County Council (18 019 799)

Statement Upheld Other 22-Jul-2019

Summary: There was fault in how the Council calculated petrol costs for school transport. The Council recognised its error and now paid the correct amount, but it has also now agreed to recognise the time and trouble the complainant went to in pursing the matter.