London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 012 678)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate part of Mrs X’s complaint about concerns relating to her child’s school because the issues raised relate to the internal management of a school, and the law says we cannot investigate. We will not investigate the Council’s investigation into a safeguarding concern because there is insufficient evidence of fault. We will not investigate the Council’s complaint handling because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

London Borough of Havering (25 005 294)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council lied in court. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happened in court.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 017 945)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with a child protection referral. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman.

Northumberland County Council (25 020 382)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the professional conduct of a social worker. There is another agency which can investigate his concerns about the social worker’s conduct

Herefordshire Council (25 019 180)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. Some of the complaint is late. For the remainder, it was reasonable for Mrs X to ask the Council to review her complaint, there is not enough evidence of fault in its decision to close her complaint, and the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider and decide complaints about data protection.

Somerset Council (25 019 337)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to act appropriately to safeguard the complainant’s child. This is because the complaint has already been substantially upheld and investigation by the Ombudsman would achieve nothing significant.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 019 484)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her child’s care placement. The matters were raised in Court. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s refusal of her complaint.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (25 022 287)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of safeguarding concerns, recording of information, and complaint handling. The main issues relate to professional safeguarding judgement, where there is not enough evidence of administrative fault. Complaints about data protection are best suited for the Information Commissioner’s Office. Where limited fault was identified, the Council has already taken proportionate remedial action. Further investigation is unlikely to achieve a different outcome.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (26 002 359)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We are unlikely to find fault on some elements. We will not reinvestigate the complaint and are unlikely to add to the Council’s reply. We would not achieve Ms X’s aims.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (25 008 419)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 27-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s preparation of a section 7 report. The law prevents us from investigating such matters and there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s refusal of his complaint. Mr X’s other concerns about his confidentiality and subject access request are better addressed with the Information Commissioner’s Office.