Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 332)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 15-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint the Council has failed to encourage contact between her and her looked after child. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

East Sussex County Council (24 012 899)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 15-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the actions of children’s services regarding the care of his child. This is because his complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate it now.

West Sussex County Council (24 013 904)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 15-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to proceed with an investigation into what happened to them while they were in care 20 years ago. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late and there are no grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Essex County Council (24 001 566)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 14-Jan-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to safeguard her child and failed to carry out correct assessments. Mrs X said this caused her child permanent physical scars, and caused her unnecessary and avoidable distress and frustration. We find the Council at fault, and this caused injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to reflect the injustice caused.

Lancashire County Council (24 012 902)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 14-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with matters concerning the care of Miss X’s child. This is because the issues raised have either been considered in court or could have reasonably been mentioned as part of those proceedings.

Northumberland County Council (24 000 202)

Statement Upheld Looked after children 13-Jan-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to ban him from attending any meetings regarding his stepdaughter who is a looked after child. He said the Council is preventing him from having any input into matters. Mr X said this prevents him from providing support to his wife and stepdaughter. We find the Council was at fault for failing to give proper warning and for failing to consider reviewing its decision. This caused significant distress to Mr X. The Council has agreed to several recommendations to address this injustice caused by fault.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 012 331)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 13-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council allowing the removal of a diagnosis for Ms X’s child when the child was not in Ms X’s care. The matter happened in 2020, and Ms X could have complained to us much sooner, so there is no good reason to exercise discretion to consider this matter now.

London Borough of Wandsworth (24 003 294)

Statement Not upheld Looked after children 10-Jan-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s decision not to uphold her complaints about the failure to provide her with support as a young care leaver. We did not find the Council to be at fault because it carried out a thorough, evidence-based investigation under the statutory children’s complaints procedure. The Ombudsman cannot add anything to what has already been decided during this process.

Wakefield City Council (24 010 654)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 08-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a restriction placed on Mrs X’s grandchild in a children’s home run by the Council. The restriction imposed was within the range open to professionals to decide, and an investigation by us would be unlikely to find fault.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (24 006 884)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Looked after children 03-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council allegedly failing to support reunification between Mr X and his child. The matter complained of concerns contact with a child, which only a court can decide. It would therefore be reasonable for Mr X to use his right to go to court to seek different contact arrangements.