Cheshire East Council (24 009 262)

Report Upheld Child protection 26-Aug-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council excessively and disproportionately intervened after a traumatic premature birth. She said the Council wrongly considered care proceedings, put both of her children on child protection plans, and communicated poorly. Miss X said the Council’s actions scarred and traumatised her, and caused significant distress. She said the experience significantly impacted her mental health. Miss X said she felt shamed, bullied and misjudged. She said she was treated like a danger to her children during one of the most frightening, exhausting and vulnerable times of her life. Miss X said she and her children carry the emotional consequences every day.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 001 610)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about post adoption services provided by the Council. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, and we cannot achieve the outcomes Mr X seeks. Additionally, any fault in how the Council considered Mr X’s complaint has not caused him a significant injustice to warrant investigation.

Leicestershire County Council (25 001 764)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the child protection actions of the Council. The matters he complains of are matters he could have mentioned during court action, or are closely related to those matters. Some matters directly concern part of the court process, and we cannot investigate them.

London Borough of Merton (25 002 032)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint because his objection to the company the Council proposed to carry out an independent investigation does not justify an investigation by us.

Birmingham City Council (25 002 779)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about concerns he has about a discussion session held at a youth club. There is either no evidence of fault or we could not add to the investigation carried out by the Council or achieve a different outcome. The Information Commissioner is better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint that the Council is withholding information.

Swindon Borough Council (25 005 591)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about delays in the Council’s handling of their complaint under the statutory children complaints procedure. This is because an investigation would not lead to any further worthwhile outcomes.

Staffordshire County Council (25 004 182)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the actions of the Council leading to the removal of her children. This decision was subject to a court order and the matters complained of are closely linked to matters that were or could reasonably have been mentioned in court. Some of the matters directly relate to the conduct of court proceedings and we cannot investigate them. Another body is better placed than us to consider data access matters.

London Borough of Harrow (24 012 792)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss Y complains the Council did not properly investigate the injuries her child obtained whilst in Council arranged foster care. We find procedural fault which creates uncertainty about the Council’s consideration of the injuries. The Council will pay £500 in recognition of that distress and remind staff of the protocols when considering allegations made against those working with children.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (24 018 813)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr Y complains about the Council’s involvement with his family following a referral it received regarding his young child. There is fault because the Council did not speak with Mr Y about the referral and then created a safety plan which was one-sided and contained assumptions about Mr Y’s ability to parent. This caused avoidable and significant distress which the Council has already remedied with an apology, a symbolic payment of £1350 and reminders to relevant staff. This is an appropriate remedy.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 319)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 28-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council carried out a stage 2 investigation under the statutory children’s complaint procedure. This is mainly because there is insufficient evidence of fault and we could not add to the Council’s investigation.