West Northamptonshire Council (25 006 286)

Statement Upheld Adoption 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s actions in relation to his adoption case. The Council was at fault as it did not investigate Mr X’s complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure, causing uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X and investigate his complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure.

London Borough of Bexley (24 018 763)

Statement Upheld Fostering 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council falsely accused her of poor care of her foster children and did not properly investigate her complaint. She says this distressed her and stopped her fostering more children. The Council was at fault. It failed to keep Miss X informed during the care investigation process and tell her the outcome. It also delayed its complaint response. This caused uncertainty and frustration for Miss X. The Council has agreed to apologise.

Cheshire East Council (25 000 499)

Statement Upheld Child protection 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s handling of allegations made against her and the conduct of its safeguarding procedures. We have not found the Council at fault for its conduct or communication during its initial visit to Ms X’s home, or in how it accounted for the information received in its decision-making. We have found the Council at fault for not appropriately providing Ms X with a copy of its assessment and for delay in issuing its closure letter. We believe this caused Ms X avoidable distress and uncertainty. We found the Council at fault for not making clear Ms X could have been accompanied during an interview. For the reasons set out in the decision, we do not believe this caused a significant injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and pay a symbolic financial remedy to recognise the avoidable distress caused. The Council also agreed to remind staff that individuals can be accompanied in interviews where appropriate.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 012 688)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about children services’ actions as there are no good reasons why the late complaint rule should not apply.

Kent County Council (25 017 112)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We have upheld Mr X’s complaint as the Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure which is a proportionate way to resolve the complaint.

Devon County Council (25 017 189)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Child protection 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s actions following his adopted daughter’s allegations against him. This is because it is late and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

London Borough of Ealing (25 018 120)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint about the care his son receives from the Council because there is not significant enough injustice to justify our involvement, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr F wants.

London Borough of Havering (25 022 680)

Statement Upheld Other 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about children services’ actions and its complaint handling. This is because the Council has not yet completed all three stages of the statutory children’s complaint procedure, and it would be reasonable to allow it to do so. Nor will we investigate the delays in the Council’s handling of the complaint. This is because the Council has agreed to an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused by the delay.

London Borough of Havering (25 023 661)

Statement Upheld Child protection 14-Apr-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.

Hampshire County Council (25 007 418)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 13-Apr-2026

Summary: We have completed our investigation into how the Council arranged contact between Miss X and her looked-after child. This is because we find no fault. We will not investigate whether the Council gave Miss X documents it agreed to years before. This is because it is too late.