London Borough of Harrow (24 022 000)

Report Upheld Other 07-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council had not taken action to ensure that he and his wife have the respite care for their child that the family is entitled to. Mr X said this caused him and his family distress, worry, uncertainty, and frustration. The Council failed to investigate the complaints under the children’s service statutory complaints procedure following our earlier recommendation, and failed to respond to us when we asked the reasons why. We therefore have concerns about the Council’s governance arrangements to administer the statutory children’s complaints procedure.

London Borough of Lewisham (24 015 996)

Report Upheld Other 24-Jun-2025

Summary: During two earlier investigations, we identified that faults in the way the Council was operating its children’s statutory complaints procedure were potentially causing injustice to others. We opened this new complaint to investigate. We found that complainants have experienced delay, and in some cases, have been denied their right to access the full complaints procedure.

Surrey County Council (25 001 418)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 17-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s Local Authority Designated Officer. We cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

City of York Council (24 011 592)

Statement Upheld Other 16-Jun-2025

Summary: Mrs X complains on behalf of Y that the Council did not deal properly with an annual review of his Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan or take seriously reports that he was not safe at school. The Council delayed issuing Y’s EHC Plan and took too long to commission alternative transport provision. Y suffered loss of Special Education Needs (SEN) provision and avoidable distress. The Council should pay Y £4,500.

London Borough of Havering (25 001 305)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters involving his children. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is or has been the subject of court proceedings.

City of Wolverhampton Council (25 002 125)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Jun-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about court reports. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is or has been the subject of court proceedings.

Birmingham City Council (24 022 938)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Mr Y’s child because it is unlikely that we would be able to add anything significant to what the Council has already said, and we cannot deliver the outcome that Mr Y is seeking.

Durham County Council (25 002 481)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a section 7 report. This is because the law prevents us from considering what happens in court.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (25 000 479)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 11-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s child protection investigation. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

London Borough of Camden (25 001 835)

Statement Not upheld Other 11-Jun-2025

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council caused a delay in responding to his complaint about its children’s social care service. We have discontinued our investigation, because there is no worthwhile outcome we can achieve until Mr X receives the Council’s final response to his complaint.