Plymouth City Council (25 017 023)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s involved with his child. The arrangements for the child’s care and contact are being considered by the court which prevents us from investigating. It is reasonable to expect Mr X to raise any concerns he has with the court.

Hampshire County Council (25 019 018)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of Mrs X’s child’s school, or how the Council responded to a complaint about that matter. We cannot investigate what happens in schools and of the matters we could investigate, there are no wider public interest issues to justify investigating, for the reasons I have set out.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 020 387)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s consideration of her safeguarding report. Those concerns were considered within Court proceedings and we cannot investigate issues which form part of Court proceedings.

London Borough of Brent (25 020 747)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the remedy offered to her following a children’s statutory complaints investigation in 2020 and the Council’s recent decision that it will not re-open her complaint to re-consider the matter. A complaint about the Council’s actions in 2020 is late and there is not enough evidence of fault in its recent decision.

Isle of Wight Council (25 014 449)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 18-May-2026

Summary: Mrs B complained about the Council’s lack of special guardianship support, and that it has delayed investigating her complaint. She says she feels let down by the Council and she would like it to provide financial support to her until the child is an adult. I have ended my investigation of Mrs B’s complaint. It was reasonable for Mrs B to accept the Council’s offer of a fresh stage two investigation, and it is not likely we could achieve the outcome Mrs B would like.

London Borough of Croydon (25 020 309)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s role in a Trust. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s complaint handling, another body is better placed to consider this complaint, and we cannot achieve the outcomes Miss Y wants.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (25 011 588)

Statement Upheld Other 17-May-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to communicate properly about his child. We find the Council at fault for poor communication, inaccurate and late meeting minutes, inadequate record-keeping, and a failure to learn from an earlier upheld complaint and implement an agreed communication plan. This caused Mr X avoidable distress and uncertainty and led to significant time and trouble in repeatedly chasing the Council and making a further complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X, and review and properly implement a revised communication plan to ensure consistent and timely information sharing.

Shropshire Council (25 025 578)

Statement Upheld Other 17-May-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for a four month delay in considering Miss X’s complaint at stage two of the statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to remedy the distress, frustration and uncertainty this caused.

London Borough of Havering (25 031 481)

Statement Upheld Other 17-May-2026

Summary: We have upheld Mr X’s complaint about delay at stage 2 of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.

London Borough of Merton (25 030 380)

Statement Upheld Other 17-May-2026

Summary: We have upheld Miss X’s complaint about delay at stage 2 of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.