Suffolk County Council (24 018 382)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 25-Nov-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council dealt with payments for the care of her granddaughter, Y. The Council was at fault for failing to recognise its duty to accommodate Y and make payments to Mr and Mrs X. This caused Mr and Mrs X distress and frustration. The Council has agreed to apologise, backdate payments, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused and make service improvements.

Gloucestershire County Council (24 018 484)

Statement Not upheld Other 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mr X’s complaint. We could not add anything meaningful to the Council’s own complaint investigation, which has already upheld the complaint in full. And we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants, which is compensation for a loss of earnings and for other issues relating to his health. This is a matter for the courts, not the Ombudsman.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 010 287)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the social worker’s actions in proceedings which led to her child being placed for adoption, because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about matters that are, or have been, subject to court proceedings. We have no discretion to do so.

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (25 008 396)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled Mr X’s concerns about the welfare of his children. The complaint is mostly about matters we already considered and decided in 2023. We could not achieve a meaningful outcome in relation to the matter Mr X says is new and separable.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 008 067)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a children safeguarding investigation as we are unlikely to achieve more than the Council’s complaint response. It is reasonable for Mr X to have sought a review from the Independent Review Mechanism for a fostering panel's decision.

West Sussex County Council (25 007 824)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Nov-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council has not completed the stage 2 investigation within the time period allowed in the statutory complaint’s procedure. Mr X said this distressed him. There was fault in the way the Council delayed completing the stage two investigation. This distressed Mr X. The Council agreed to apologise, make a financial payment and complete the statutory complaint procedure.

Norfolk County Council (25 001 778)

Statement Not upheld Other 24-Nov-2025

Summary: The Council was not at fault for how it handled allegations made against Mr X, a teacher, by a child at his school. It followed correct procedure and allowed Mr X a fair opportunity to provide representations in support of his case.

Sheffield City Council (25 008 909)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 24-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ actions as there are ongoing Court proceedings.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (25 010 677)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mrs X’s data. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider it.

Birmingham City Council (25 009 881)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Fostering 22-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about events which took place in the course of the breakdown of a foster placement in February 2024. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to consider it now.