Birmingham City Council (24 021 332)

Statement Upheld Other 10-Feb-2026

Summary: Mr B complained about the Council’s handling of child protection matters regarding his children. He also complained about delays in the Council’s complaint-handling through the children’s statutory complaint procedure. There was fault by the Council. It did not follow statutory timescales when considering Mr B’s complaint. Because of this, Mr B suffered distress and frustration. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr B, make a symbolic payment, and progress stage three without further delay.

London Borough of Lewisham (25 002 240)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay at stage two of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. It is unlikely an investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Lancashire County Council (25 011 123)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Disabled children 10-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the lack of Children’s social care support. The Council gave her a route to a Council assessment, and we are unlikely to achieve significantly more.

London Borough of Barnet (25 013 044)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Feb-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about information the Council gave a court or his contact with a child, as the Court is deciding this. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider an information sharing complaint.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 803)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about a delay in reimbursing the cost of a holiday for a looked after child. We are unlikely to achieve more than the financial payment already paid.

Leeds City Council (25 006 550)

Statement Not upheld Child protection 09-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council was not at fault for its decision to respond to Mr X’s complaint under its corporate complaints procedure, rather than the Children Act 1989 complaints procedure. And we have not investigated the substantive elements of his complaint, which are about data accuracy and are therefore better suited to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 009 086)

Statement Upheld Child protection 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We have upheld Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to consider his complaint about its actions in its child protection involvement with his family. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.

Kent County Council (25 012 261)

Statement Upheld Fostering 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We have upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s delay in applying for a passport for a child she fosters. The Council have agreed to resolve the complaint by offering a suitable remedy.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (25 012 828)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with his children. The complaint is late and the law prevents us from investigating anything that is or has been the subject of court proceedings.

Suffolk County Council (25 013 190)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 09-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to accept a complaint about the actions of a social worker. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant our intervention.