Plymouth City Council (20 000 871)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 05-May-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council wrongly reduced her Special Guardian Allowance and failed to provide her family with support. She also says it caused delays and failed to correct its errors after she complained. The Council’s independent investigation found significant faults and it took action to remedy the injustice caused. Mrs X believed the remedies were inadequate. The Ombudsman finds the Council’s faults caused Mrs X and her family an injustice. The Council has agreed make payment to acknowledge the distress, uncertainty, loss of opportunity and time and trouble they experienced. It also agreed to review its current support to the family. In addition, it will also review its procedures for Special Guardians and ensure its staff are aware of these.

Essex County Council (20 006 635)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 04-May-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to follow the course of action it set out when a young person came to live with her. The Council was at fault in how it shared information with Mrs X and dealt with her complaints. This caused her uncertainty. The Council will apologise to Mrs X and remind staff they must give suitable information to potential informal carers.

North Somerset Council (19 014 414)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 29-Apr-2021

Summary: The complainant alleged that the Council failed to regard her nephew, who she cares for, as a child in care and, if it had, the Council would have had to provide both financial and other support to her and to her nephew. We find fault in that the Council failed to recognise that it played a significant part in placing the nephew with the complainant and it did not give reasons for not exercising its discretion to investigate the complaint out of time. The Council has agreed the recommended actions to remedy the injustice caused.

Northamptonshire County Council (20 011 220)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 29-Apr-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council ignored the complainant’s request to be a contact supervisor. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (20 005 610)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 07-Apr-2021

Summary: Miss X complains that the Council failed to provide financial support when she agreed to accommodate a child. She says its communication and complaint handling were poor. The Council has agreed it is at fault and has caused injustice. It has agreed a financial remedy and service reviews.

Wiltshire Council (20 006 984)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 06-Apr-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed between 2013 and 2015 to pay a care allowance and travel expenses for ‘Child A’ who they cared for. Mr X complains late and could have complained sooner. There is not enough reason to exercise discretion to investigate now.

Gloucestershire County Council (20 009 710)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 06-Apr-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council delayed giving the complainant an allowance after she became a Special Guardian for a child. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Liverpool City Council (20 006 517)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 01-Apr-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to provide financial support prior to and following her application for a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). She also complains the Council failed to communicate with her or assess her adequately. The Council is at fault, which has caused injustice. It has agreed an apology, a financial assessment and a financial remedy.

London Borough of Harrow (20 012 109)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 01-Apr-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the contents of a report, written in relation to the complainants Special Guardianship Order. This is because the report concerns a matter that has been subject to court proceedings.