London Borough of Newham (24 013 169)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the support provided to his child by the Councils children’s services. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (24 015 087)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council was at fault in calling the complainant to give evidence in court of legal proceedings. By law, we cannot consider complaints about what happens in court.

Birmingham City Council (24 006 068)

Statement Upheld Other 03-Mar-2025

Summary: Ms X complains about the actions of the Council’s children’s services team. The Council has investigated her complaint under the children’s statutory complaint procedure, but Ms X disagrees with the findings and complains about delay in the process. Ms X says she has been caused distress and financial losses. We find fault in the actions of the Council in incorrectly using the Children’s Statutory Complaint procedure to investigate Ms X’s complaints and for delay in the process. The Council has agreed to issue an apology, pay Ms X a financial payment and complete service improvements.

Warwickshire County Council (24 013 077)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Feb-2025

Summary: We upheld this complaint about how the Council’s review panel handled Mr X’s complaint about the lack of support provided to his family during the Child in Need (CIN) process. The Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a financial remedy for the injustice caused.

Oxfordshire County Council (24 017 399)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council incorrectly recorded her marital status. The Council has already apologised. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

West Northamptonshire Council (24 018 211)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Feb-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about social workers lying to the court in ongoing court proceedings because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what has happened in court. We have no discretion to do so.

Essex County Council (24 016 397)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Feb-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the impact of a safety plan on the progress Mr X’s son was making. The plan complained about was devised by a charity and other bodies, not the Council. The complaint is thus about a matter that was a not a function of the Council. We cannot consider how the Council dealt with Mr X’s complaint about this as the substantive matter lies outside our powers.

Herefordshire Council (24 017 255)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint the Council has failed to respond to her stage two complaint within the statutory timescales. This is because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets (24 015 870)

Statement Upheld Other 21-Feb-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed considering a complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has now agreed to resolve the complaint by issuing its stage two response without further delay. It will also apologise and offer to make a payment to the complainant to remedy the time and trouble they have been to.

Shropshire Council (24 016 211)

Statement Upheld Other 20-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about delay in the Council responding to his complaint under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. This is because the Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.