The Council has agreed to remind its relevant officers of the legal requirements and best practice by sharing this decision statement and our guide to help local authorities handle complaints under the children’s services statutory complaints process. It should focus on the parts of the guide that suggest what a council should do if:only some of the complaint comes under the statutory complaints procedure;the complainant adds further issues to their complaint at stage two; andit takes a long time to find an investigating officer or to carry out a stage two adjudication.It should also refer to the key lessons from our investigations listed in the guide.

The Council has agreed to remind staff of the need to record all communications with familiesand confirm meeting arrangements.The Council has agreed to remind staff dealing with statutory children’s complaints of the criteria for early referral, and the need to consider whether redress for injustice or recommendations for service improvements are appropriate. It will be asking staff to attend our new workshops for complaints relating to children’s services.

the Council will provide an update on how it is ensuring the outstanding stage two investigations are progressing.

To review its policies and procedures for accommodating homeless 16 and 17 year-olds to comply with statutory guidance and to ensure bed and breakfast accommodation, static caravans and tents are never considered suitable. It should ensure that where homeless young people refuse accommodation, it considers if there is any reason why it should not treat their wishes as definitive rather than assuming so. It should also record the reason for its decision to accept the young person's refusal.To draw up an action plan to ensure there is sufficient suitable accommodation for homeless young people in Cornwall.To arrange staff training for those who work with homeless young people to ensure they are aware bed and breakfast accommodation, static caravans and tents are never suitable accommodation for homeless 16 and 17 year-olds.To arrange staff training to ensure there is a proper recorded decision about possible risk of significant harm in all cases where the Council receives a safeguarding referral involving any child or young person under 18, including reports of child sexual exploitation.