Ombudsman investigation finds Brentwood gatekeeping homelessness applications A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation has found Brentwood council has been gatekeeping access to its homelessness services when people approach it for help. Following an investigation into a complaint, the Ombudsman has raised concerns with the way the council assessed homeless applications, includi ...

Nearly 60% of eligible Tameside children waited more than eight months for education support plan update, Ombudsman reports Tameside council is routinely taking too long to complete reviews of the support it offers to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. During an investigation into a mother’s c ...

Somerset mum had to pay for children’s therapy while she waited for council funding A Somerset mother was left more than £7,000 out of pocket while she waited for the council to release funds for her children’s much-needed therapy, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The mother, whose children’s extensive special educational needs mean they have Education, Health and Care (E ...

Are children’s voices being heard? Two Ombudsman reports highlight issues councils face dealing with statutory process Is the Children’s statutory complaints process working to support the very children it is designed to help? The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is calling for the statutory complaints process for cases involving children to be urgently reviewed, following the publicati ...

London council failed to review its support for disabled children Councils should respond to all recommendations made during independent complaints investigations, says the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman after it upheld a mother’s complaint about London Borough of Waltham Forest. The issue is being highlighted after the mother of a disabled child asked the Ombudsman to investigate the ...

Cheshire East wrongly started care proceedings process against mum who simply needed support A Cheshire East mum nearly had her children placed in care following the traumatic birth of her second child, after the council instigated care proceedings without proper evidence, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The mother had a traumatic birth experience during which her baby w ...

Cumbria County Council Find local authorities Complaint overview Sort annual statistics for Cumbria County Council by annual intervals 2024 / 2025 2023 / 2024 2022 / 2023 2021 / 2022 2020 / 2021 2019 / 2020 2018 / 2019 Between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, we dealt with 0 complaints. Of these, 0 were not for us or not ready for us to investigate. We assessed and closed 0 complaints. We investiga ...

Cumbria County Council Find local authorities Complaint overview Sort annual statistics for Cumbria County Council by annual intervals 2024 / 2025 2023 / 2024 2022 / 2023 2021 / 2022 2020 / 2021 2019 / 2020 2018 / 2019 Between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, we dealt with 0 complaints. Of these, 0 were not for us or not ready for us to investigate. We assessed and closed 0 complaints. We investiga ...

Rochdale’s systemic SEND issues highlighted in Ombudsman report Rochdale Borough Council has admitted to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that it has a backlog of nearly 1,500 support plans to review for children with special educational needs and disabilities. To ensure children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan are having their needs met properly, thei ...

Croydon woman’s back broken by home-help device when council withdrew care funding A Croydon woman fractured her spine using a bed turning aid the NHS installed. The council thought this could replace paid care workers for overnight care, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. Croydon council withdrew funding for the woman’s night-time care. The NHS instead installed a turning ...