Vulnerable child care
Lack of consistent prescribed care for highly vulnerable children due to insufficient care package reviews and staff training.
564 items
11 sources
2 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Vulnerable child care has been flagged across 11 independent accountability sources:
6 inquiry recs
26 PFD reports
143 committee recs
15 HMICFRS recs
3 ICIBI recs
6 IOPC recs
4 NAO recs
2 IMB reports
28 IMB recs
1 PHSO decision
330 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (6)
WATE-(11) — Require field social workers to visit looked after children every eight weeks
Recommendation: Field social workers should be required by regulation to visit any looked after child for whom they are responsible not less than once every eight weeks916. In the case of older children, they should be required also to see the …
Unknown
WATE-(17) — Require reporting of absconsions to social worker and independent follow-up
Recommendation: It should be a rule of practice that any absconsion should be reported as soon as possible to the absconder's field social worker and that the absconder should be seen on his return by that social worker or by another …
Unknown
WATE-(16) — Advise police on absconders from care homes and social worker consultation
Recommendation: Police officers should be reminded periodically that an absconder from a residential care or foster home may have been motivated to abscond by abuse in the home. They should be advised that, when apprehended, an absconder should be encouraged to …
Unknown
WATE-(12) — Safeguard field social worker's responsibilities for placement supervision and care planning
Recommendation: Any arrangements made for the provision of residential care or fostering services should expressly safeguard the field social worker's continuing responsibilities for supervision of the placement and care planning.
Unknown
WATE-(10) — Assign field social worker to every looked after child in and after care
Recommendation: An appropriate915 field social worker should be assigned to every looked after child throughout the period that the child remains in care and for an appropriate period following the child's discharge from care.
Unknown
11 — Review E Wing suitability for vulnerable detainees
Recommendation: The Home Office and the current operator of Brook House must keep under review the appropriateness of the multi-purpose use of E Wing, particularly in relation to its suitability as a location to detain vulnerable people.
Gov response: The government stated the multi-purpose use of Eden Wing at Brook House is under consideration, and learning would be applied across the estate.
Accepted in Part
PFD Reports (26)
Timothy Cowen
Concerns: New training on procedures is not mandatory for all staff, and the Acute Liaison Nurse role, crucial for patient support, lacks adequate cover during absences.
Overdue
Mary Stroman
Concerns: A child's recommended long-term therapeutic placement was delayed and ultimately overturned by Children's Services, despite multi-agency support, due to a perceived failure to meet statutory accommodation thresholds.
Response (Haringey Council): Haringey Council reports strengthened management oversight of decision-making, improved joint working with partner agencies, and revised processes for funding long-term therapeutic placements. Placements are now only made in establishments graded …
Responded
Finnulla Martin
Concerns: The psychiatry liaison team at Whittington Hospital appeared unclear on protocols for receiving information from police officers bringing patients in voluntarily, and did not adequately explore suicide risk or obtain collateral history; also, the police call handler did not record critical information.
Overdue
Amy El-Keria
Concerns: Hounslow Social Services misunderstood their ongoing welfare role for a child placed far from home and failed to assess for support, neglecting family contact issues.
Response (Department of Health): NHS England and Health Education England are working to improve the capacity and capability of the workforce delivering mental health care for children and young people. NHS England commissioned the …
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): NHS England and Health Education England (HEE) are working to improve the capacity and capability of the workforce delivering mental health care for children and young people. The Royal College …
Response (London Borough of Hounslow): The London Borough of Hounslow has updated its Thresholds Guidance & Assessment Protocols, with specific reference to children in need under S17 of the Children Act 1989 for those in …
Response (Priory Group): Priory Group has enhanced observation recording forms and clarified its policy on information sharing. Monthly simulation drills are undertaken for BLS and ILS. A new tool for better assessment of …
Response (Priory Group): Priory Group has enhanced observation recording forms and clarified its policy on information sharing. Monthly simulation drills are undertaken for BLS and ILS. A new tool for better assessment of …
Responded
Natalie Gray
Concerns: Concerns included an unfinalized discharge pathway for personality disorder patients, inadequate risk assessment forms and subjective terminology leading to inaccurate assessments. Crucially, significant third-party information was not consistently recorded.
Response (Kent and Medway NHS Trust): The Trust has implemented steps to support discharge from in-patient services, including using a countdown to discharge tool and strengthening links between CMHT and CRHT teams. The Trust is improving …
Responded
Steffan Bonnot
Concerns: Inadequate and undocumented disclosure of a child's background information to prospective foster carers caused anxiety and posed a risk to informed placement decisions.
Overdue
Jeremiah Obaka
Concerns: Lack of a consistent, agreed policy between the local authority and care agency regarding actions when service users do not respond or cannot be found.
Overdue
Enric Elliott
Concerns: Vulnerable young mothers who book late for maternity care are often excluded from the Family Nurse Partnership due to rigid gestation limits, despite late booking indicating increased risk.
Response (Whittington Health NHS Trust): The Trust acknowledges concerns about referral criteria for the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme and is working with the national FNP team to test the impact on programme outcomes for …
Responded
Joseph Grantham
Concerns: Key concerns include significant delays in discharge paperwork and specialist letters, unclear care responsibility, missing patient notes, inadequate instructions for community monitoring, and a lack of protocols for inter-hospital care transfers.
Overdue
Ezra Boulton
Concerns: Critical issues include a lack of continuity in antenatal care, insufficient safe-sleeping advice provided post-natally, and midwives' unawareness of criminal implications of infant overlay with alcohol/drugs.
Response (Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust): Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has emailed all midwives and neonatal nursing, medical and support staff to alert them to the definition of the criminal offence of "overlay".
Overdue
Shannon Quinn
Concerns: Multiple failures in multi-agency communication, inadequate staff training, and poor risk management regarding ligature use, patient observations, and resuscitation significantly compromised care for a patient with complex mental health needs.
Response (Camino Healthcare): Camino Healthcare has undertaken a significant review, appointed a new Executive team, evaluated training, provided further training in Intensive Life Support and Basic First Aid, and made changes to make …
Response (CQC): CQC took urgent enforcement action against Oak House, imposing conditions on the provider's registration. The provider submitted an action plan to deliver new training to staff, which CQC will follow …
Overdue
Xuanze Piao
Concerns: The university failed to hold a face-to-face meeting or contact the guardian/parents of an under-18 overseas student before sending a critical email indicating course removal risk, revealing a lack of clear communication policy.
Response (Coventry University): Coventry University is undertaking a full review of its policy and procedures relating to students who are under the age of 18, expected to be complete by January 31, 2021. …
Responded
Ewan Brown
Concerns: A lack of joint police-health policies for vulnerable missing persons, absence of multi-agency meetings, inadequate police mental health training, and poor information sharing protocols hindered effective risk assessment and search efforts.
Overdue
Samuel Alban-Stanley
Concerns: Inadequate support and psychosocial interventions were provided for a child with Prader Willi syndrome and high-risk behaviours. Poor communication between agencies also prevented coordinated care.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): North East London Foundation Trust is working with the Kent and Medway ICS and the local authority to learn lessons from the report, and has put training in place for …
Response (Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group): Training on Prader-Willi syndrome has been provided to CYPMHS staff at NELFT, and joint posts have been created across the Local Authority and Primary Care to identify children with additional …
Response (Department for Education): The Department for Education is working with the Children’s Commissioner’s Office and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to identify ways to better improve data sharing in child safeguarding cases. They …
Responded
Asher Sinclair
Concerns: A highly vulnerable child was not provided prescribed 2:1 care, their complex package lacked proper review or quality checks, and critical parental concerns were ignored, compounded by inadequate staff training.
Response (NHS NorthWest London): NHS North West London has implemented a single children’s continuing care team with registered nurses and experienced managers providing a consistent service. A parental agreement has been developed which sets …
Response (Response form NHS England): NHS England highlights the resources provided by The National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) and notes the NWL's response addressing training, supervision and care packages. They also mention that all reports …
Responded
Rebecca Hayward
Concerns: Inexperienced staff conducting assessments for vulnerable individuals with homelessness and substance misuse issues lead to inaccurate plans, and Care Act re-referrals for changing accommodation are resisted.
Response (Nottingham Council): Nottingham City Council has developed an overarching action plan, governed by the Senior Leadership Team and Principal Social Workers, to address the concerns raised; the plan will be reviewed monthly.
Responded
Melsadie Parris
Concerns: Social work failed to conduct renewed home visits or liaise with mental health teams regarding a carer's admitted psychosis, relying on old assessments and missing critical information about the carer's deteriorating mental state.
Response (Buckinghamshire Council): Buckinghamshire Children's Social Care acknowledges the coroner's concerns regarding a comment made by a carer. They note the coroner's finding that the child was not at risk at the time …
Responded
Stefan Kluibenschadl
Concerns: The report identifies a lack of case managers or key workers for young people diagnosed with autism, contrary to NICE guidance, which may prevent them and their families navigating available services.
Overdue
Terence Davenport
Concerns: A patient remained in an unsuitable acute hospital due to a lack of care beds. Poor information sharing between authorities also failed to recognize a safeguarding risk, endangering residents and staff.
Response (Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board): Learning from the report will be presented to Tameside Care Home Managers in December 2023 and ICFT Trust Colleagues in February 2024, focusing on sharing risk information and discharge issues. …
Responded
Christopher Vickers
Concerns: There were multiple missed opportunities to coordinate care through multi-disciplinary meetings and to make safeguarding referrals despite the deceased's known escalating risks.
Response (Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust): The Trust has implemented changes to ensure relevant safeguarding referrals and multi-agency meetings are convened, including changes to MDT processes and safeguarding as a standard agenda item; also improved engagement …
Response (South Tyneside Council): South Tyneside Council expressed condolences and stated that changes had already been made and that they had further re-evaluated internal policies and procedures. They detailed actions taken prior to the …
Responded
Locket Williams
Concerns: Insufficient in-county psychiatric inpatient beds for children persist, with new units inadequate for demand or specific needs. A new suicide risk assessment system lacks clear alerts on medical records, risking clinicians missing vital information.
Response (Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS): The Trust opened Emerald Place to meet demand for inpatient beds, although admissions are currently paused for quality improvements. They have also requested that Children’s Services copy each invite into …
Responded
Sebastian ‘Benji’ Oliver
Concerns: Police inappropriately closed a "safe and well" check based on an outdated capacity assessment, demonstrating shortcomings in training and communication with paramedics regarding patients with fluctuating capacity who abscond from treatment.
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police have taken several actions including: implementing a new THRIVE+ risk assessment, adding a prompt regarding mental health capacity, creating a prompt to evidence rationale for clinical decision …
Responded
Callum Hargreaves
Concerns: Sanctuary Housing failed to properly investigate cuckooing and property damage for a vulnerable tenant, leading to an eviction notice instead of support, and lacked a clear policy for such situations.
Response (Sanctuary Housing): Sanctuary Housing commits to an internal review following the Coroner's findings to identify improvements that can be made to its multi-agency approach to ASB and cuckooing, and will externally benchmark …
Responded
Callum Hargreaves
Concerns: A prolonged dispute between a social housing provider and the Council over rehousing a cuckooed tenant remained unresolved, highlighting a failure to support vulnerable individuals and inconsistent council policies on homelessness applications.
Response (Conrwall Council Housing): Cornwall Council's Housing Options staff have completed e-learning training provided by Shelter on ‘cuckooing’, which will now form part of the training framework and be completed on a bi-annual basis. …
Responded
Marcia Grant
Concerns: A shortage of foster placements, combined with inadequate documentation, poor communication of risks, and a failure to assess risks to carers, led to an unsuitable child placement.
Response (Department for Education): The Department for Education will set out plans to significantly increase foster care numbers, backed by additional funding and investment in regional recruitment support hubs and a foster care retention …
Response (Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council): Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council will continue to pursue their Looked After Children and Care Leavers Sufficiency Strategy, make improvements to documentation, recording and approval processes, and enhance risk assessment processes.
Responded
Matilda Davis
Concerns: Suicide prevention training is not mandatory for frontline practitioners within Warwickshire Children’s Services, potentially leading to variability in practice when responding to indications of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Pending
Committee Recommendations (143) — showing 50 strongest matches
#11 — Significant concerns exist regarding B&B suitability for temporary accommodation, particularly for children.
Recommendation: There are particular concerns about the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation, regarding the suitability of the environment and location, safeguarding in mixed settings, and a lack of support from wider public services. Children in B&Bs often face particular challenges, …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 In January 2025, MHCLG launched the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots, which was backed by £5 million to work with 20 local authorities with the …
Accepted
#10 — Require local authorities to consult domestic abuse charities on FGDM decisions involving abuse.
Recommendation: We consider that local authorities should draw on the advice of specialist domestic abuse charities in coming to a decision on whether FGDM is in the child’s best interests where domestic abuse has occurred. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Gov response: Government response to Conclusion nine: Identifying and managing risks is vital in safely conducting FGDM. Further support on safeguarding and managing risks within the FGDM process, including risks related to domestic abuse, will be provided …
Accepted
#6 — Care leavers experience a confusing patchwork of differing local authority entitlements.
Recommendation: Care leavers face a confusing patchwork of entitlements when they leave care. This is made more complex by the differing offers in each local authority and the fact that they are having to navigate this at a young age, often …
Gov response: Government response to Conclusion five: The government is committed to ensuring there is a clear and strong offer for care leavers, underpinned by existing legislation and upcoming changes through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. …
Not Accepted
#7 — Assess legislation suitability and update guidance to specify 'non-self-contained accommodation' for family protection.
Recommendation: The use of the term “B&B” in legislation means that the law does not prevent families being placed in similarly inappropriate accommodation, such as some hostels, which are not always covered by the six-week limit. (Conclusion, Paragraph 46) In its …
Gov response: 25. Suitability legislation and guidance sets out that the local authority should only use out of area placements when it is not reasonably practicable to place the applicant locally. However, we recognise this is increasingly …
Under Consideration
#6 — Update Code of Guidance and end family placements sharing facilities with single adults.
Recommendation: We are alarmed to hear examples of families housed in temporary accommodation that included spaces shared with single adults with a history of domestic abuse. This is completely inappropriate and poses a potential safeguarding risk to children. Currently, there is …
Gov response: 22. Local authorities are already required to report to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on instances of out of area placements as part of their quarterly Homelessness Case Level Information Collection …
Under Consideration
#59 — Conduct review of disabled children’s short breaks availability and fund local authority provision.
Recommendation: The Department should conduct a review of the availability of short breaks, respite care and holiday provision for disabled children to understand where the shortages are most acute. It should work with the Ministry of Housing, 91 Communities and Local …
Gov response: In 2011, the Government introduced a statutory duty for all local authorities to provide a range of short breaks, to meet local needs. The duty also requires them to consult upon and publish a short …
Accepted
#58 — Introduce national eligibility criteria for disabled children’s social care and communicate to families.
Recommendation: The Department should introduce national eligibility criteria for disabled children’s social care and ensure that local authorities are clearly communicating these to families. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144)
Gov response: The Department is awaiting recommendations from the Law Commission in relation to disabled children’s social care. Once their recommendations are submitted, we will assess reforms on their individual merits and set out any plans for …
Not Addressed
#55 — Disabled children are overlooked in social care, lacking access to essential short breaks.
Recommendation: Too often, disabled children are overlooked in the social care system. Parents struggle to understand and access the support available and face a confusing “postcode lottery” of support between local authorities. There is an urgent need to improve access to …
Gov response: In 2011, the Government introduced a statutory duty for all local authorities to provide a range of short breaks, to meet local needs. The duty also requires them to consult upon and publish a short …
Accepted
#54 — Evaluate existing reunification practices and publish national guidance based on local authority good practice.
Recommendation: The Department for Education should evaluate existing reunification practice and publish national guidance on reunification, drawing on the good practice that already exists in many local authorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 133) Disabled children’s care
Gov response: We have also commissioned Foundations to develop a practice guide for reunification which will set out the strongest available evidence translated into actionable key principles and recommendations for local leaders. This is due to be …
Accepted
#52 — Introduce opt-out independent advocacy for all children in care, including disabled children.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must take forward the recommendation of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care to introduce an opt-out model of independent advocacy for all children in care. It must also act 90 on the Child Safeguarding Practice …
Gov response: We will introduce new National Standards for Advocacy for Children and Young People and revised statutory guidance on Providing Effective Advocacy for Children and Young People Making a Complaint under the Children Act 1989 in …
Accepted
#51 — Too few children, especially disabled, access entitled independent advocacy support in care.
Recommendation: It is essential that children in care have a voice when important decisions are being made about their lives. Currently, too few children are accessing the advocacy support they are entitled to, with an average referral rate of just 5% …
Gov response: We will introduce new National Standards for Advocacy for Children and Young People and revised statutory guidance on Providing Effective Advocacy for Children and Young People Making a Complaint under the Children Act 1989 in …
Accepted
#45 — Develop universal standards of care applicable to all children's homes, including supported accommodation.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must follow the recommendation of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and develop universal standards of care that apply to all homes, including supported accommodation, ensuring that children in all settings receive care where they …
Gov response: We fully appreciate the need for there to be high standards for children, wherever they live. Settings such as barges, caravans and B&Bs, as referenced in evidence to the Committee, are not considered suitable places …
Not Accepted
#38 — Review educational support for adopted and previously looked-after children, including statutory framework.
Recommendation: The Department for Education should review the educational support available to adopted children, assessing the impact of the extension of policies to previously looked-after children and whether any further extensions are needed. This review should include: the introduction of a …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s recommendation and are committed to strengthening support for previously looked-after children. To this end, we will issue updated statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) and designated teachers. This will provide …
Accepted
#37 — Adopted children's early trauma impact on education receives insufficient recognition and support.
Recommendation: There is too little recognition of the impact of the early trauma and separation experienced by adopted children, and of the support they need to thrive in education and beyond, with over half of adopted children feeling that they didn’t …
Gov response: Supporting adopted children to thrive is a key government priority. We remain committed to providing high-quality adoption support from the point of placement and throughout childhood. The £50 million Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund …
Accepted
#36 — Extend Pupil Premium Plus and priority school admissions to all kinship care children.
Recommendation: The Department for Education should extend Pupil Premium Plus funding and priority school admissions to all children who meet the new statutory definition of living in kinship care. (Recommendation, Paragraph 85)
Gov response: We recognise the important role kinship carers play and we are already providing over £3 billion in Pupil Premium funding to support disadvantaged pupils, including those who are looked after or previously looked after by …
Not Accepted
#34 — Ensure kinship allowance pilot provides financial support equivalent to foster carers.
Recommendation: In its upcoming pilot of a kinship allowance, the Department for Education should ensure that the financial support is on a par with that given to foster carers. It must evaluate the pilot at the earliest opportunity and roll it …
Gov response: the Department for Education should ensure that the financial support is on a par with that given to foster carers. It must evaluate the pilot at the earliest opportunity and roll it out across the …
Accepted
#33 — Kinship care is essential, but carers require adequate financial and employment support.
Recommendation: Kinship care is an essential part of the care system and the evidence is clear that children in kinship care have an overall better experience than children in other types of care. We welcome the Department for Education’s focus on …
Gov response: As part of the £555 million announced at the Spending Review, we will also deliver the Kinship Financial Allowance Pilot. This is on top of the continuing £40 million we are investing to support kinship, …
Accepted
#32 — Strengthen legislation for sibling contact, collect and annually publish data on separation.
Recommendation: The Department should strengthen the legislation relating to sibling contact to ensure that children in care are placed with siblings whenever it is in their best interests, and that where they cannot be placed together, regular contact between siblings is …
Gov response: We accept this recommendation. We recognise the importance of sibling relationships for children in care, and the positive impact that being placed with or maintaining contact with siblings can have. Local authorities already have a …
Accepted
#31 — Crucial sibling relationships for children in care unprotected due to lack of separation data.
Recommendation: Sibling relationships are crucial for many children in care and, for some, may be the only family relationships they have. They must be protected and supported as much as possible. The lack of any data on the extent of sibling …
Gov response: Sibling relationships are crucial for many children in care and, for some, may be the only family relationships they have. They must be protected and supported as much as possible. The lack of any data …
Not Addressed
#29 — Establish a national fostering strategy, consult on national register, and review financial support.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the …
Gov response: As part of our reforms to foster care, we are considering the potential costs and benefits of a national register of foster carers. There are a range of proposals for such a register, each requiring …
Under Consideration
#25 — Consult fully with regional organisations on RCC boundaries and ensure local authority flexibility.
Recommendation: If and when any further Regional Care Co-operatives are developed, the Department for Education must consult fully with relevant individuals and organisations in the region, particularly as to the areas covered by the proposed RCC. In cases where there is …
Gov response: The Government agrees that the development of further Regional Care Co-operatives (RCCs) should be informed by a full understanding of the local context and strong engagement with local authorities and other stakeholders. Our approach to …
Accepted
#23 — Consult fully with the sector and consider geography for effective future Regional Care Co-operatives.
Recommendation: We are supportive of the move towards regional commissioning but note that the model of Regional Care Co-operatives (RCCs) being implemented has yet to be evaluated or proven to work. When developing any further RCCs, the Department for Education must …
Gov response: The Government agrees that the development of further Regional Care Co-operatives (RCCs) should be informed by a full understanding of the local context and strong engagement with local authorities and other stakeholders. Our approach to …
Accepted
#20 — Collect DfE data distinguishing out-of-area child placements by reasons of interest versus capacity.
Recommendation: The Department for Education should collect data on the proportion of children who are placed out of area because it is in their own interests compared with those placed out of area due to capacity issues, so that the situation …
Gov response: We agree with the Committee that data to understand the nature and scale of out-of-area placements are important to inform policy and drive improvements. We are therefore committed to improving the evidence base, including collecting …
Accepted
#19 — Publish national children's social care sufficiency strategy and mandate local out-of-area placement reduction plans.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must publish a national sufficiency strategy for children’s social care as a matter of urgency and publish data on the extent to which sufficiency requirements are being met on an annual basis. It should also require …
Gov response: The Government is committed to reducing the number of children entering care by supporting families to stay together safely. This is why we are investing in family help, kinship care and preventative services throughout the …
Not Accepted
#18 — Data on reasons for out-of-area placements is essential for understanding and change.
Recommendation: We disagree with the Department’s view that data on the reasons for out- of-area placements are not needed. While data collection itself may not directly lead to improvements, it is essential to fully understand the nature and scale of the …
Gov response: We agree with the Committee that data to understand the nature and scale of out-of-area placements are important to inform policy and drive improvements. We are therefore committed to improving the evidence base, including collecting …
Accepted
#17 — Out-of-area placements traumatise children, despite some local authorities limiting numbers.
Recommendation: Too many children are being sent many miles from home, which has a traumatic and lasting impact on their lives. We were saddened to hear that a care-experienced young person had chosen not to pursue higher education as a direct …
Gov response: The Government is committed to reducing the number of children entering care by supporting families to stay together safely. This is why we are investing in family help, kinship care and preventative services throughout the …
Not Addressed
#12 — Develop comprehensive strategy for children at risk of extra-familial harm, including professional training.
Recommendation: The Department for Education must put in place a strategy for supporting children and young people at risk of extra-familial harm. This should include: better training for professionals to spot and respond to extra- familial risks; ensuring that young people …
Gov response: We have strengthened the multi-agency response to extra-familial harm through updated statutory guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children, 20238), which now explicitly recognises harm outside the home and mandates coordinated safeguarding responses. This is supported …
Accepted
#9 — Clarify specific family group decision-making model within statutory guidance for consistent practice.
Recommendation: The Department should clarify the specific model of FGDM in statutory guidance to ensure that best practice is followed in all local authorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 22)
Gov response: In current guidance, the Department does not prescribe a specific model of FGDM; however, local authorities are encouraged to consider the evidence for the Family Group Conference model. It is a local authority’s decision on …
Not Accepted
#3 — Care-experienced young people's voices vital and require broader inclusion across government levels.
Recommendation: We were privileged to hear powerful and insightful evidence from care-experienced young people in this inquiry, and their voices have informed many of the conclusions and recommendations in this report. We are pleased that the Department is regularly hearing from …
Gov response: The Department draws on the lived experience and knowledge of its care experienced staff through the Children and Young People Board run by the National Children’s Bureau on behalf of the department. The board has …
Accepted
#37 — Establish national inclusivity requirements for early years settings and reform Disability Access Fund eligibility criteria.
Recommendation: To address inconsistency in the delivery of early years provision and the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF), the Department for Education must establish a set of national inclusivity requirements for early years settings. These requirements should be backed by …
Gov response: Supporting children with SEND is central to the early years agenda. The government recognises the important role the early years sector plays in early intervention to ensure the right support is put in place for …
Not Addressed
#36 — Inconsistency in SENIF and Disability Access Fund eligibility criteria undermines equitable early years SEND access.
Recommendation: There is a clear need to improve the consistency and effectiveness of the SENIF across early years provision. At present, practice varies significantly between local authorities, with differences in how funding is managed and allocated. This means there is inconsistency …
Gov response: increasing the funding available to providers to support children with SEND and make improvements to the way funding is allocated as part of wider reforms to the SEND system. Improved funding will provide additional resources …
Accepted
#24 — Insufficient accountability for inconsistent SEND support and EHC plan delivery
Recommendation: We have heard about significant variability in the provision of SEN support and inconsistencies in the implementation of EHC plans across education settings. The limitations of the Local Government Ombudsman’s powers mean there is insufficient accountability for the delivery of …
Gov response: We appreciate the Committee’s careful consideration of these issues and will respond to their recommendations on improving local authority accountability, including in relation to the SEND tribunal. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman plays …
Accepted
#9 — Inconsistent SEN support and provision leads to inequitable experiences for children with SEND.
Recommendation: The current inconsistency in SEN support and ordinarily available provision across England is unacceptable and results in deeply inequitable experiences for children and young people with SEND. The lack of consistent good practice in SEN support, driven by insufficiently clear …
Gov response: Fair. Every school should be resourced and able to meet common and predictable needs, including as they change over time, without parents having to fight to get support for their children. Where specialist provision is …
Partially Accepted
#7 — Systemic failures in SEND provision result in poor experiences and outcomes for families.
Recommendation: The SEND system is not delivering for children and young people or their families, with poor experiences and outcomes becoming the norm in many places across England. Rising need coupled with limited school resourcing, stretched local authority budgets and a …
Gov response: The Committee’s report rightly highlights the deep-rooted issues which have plagued the SEND system for too long and has resulted in poor experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. …
Not Addressed
#48 — Inconsistent free transport for post-16 SEND students due to lack of legal requirement.
Recommendation: Local authorities in England are not legally required to provide free transport for the majority post-16 students with SEND, leading to inconsistent and often inadequate support. Financial pressures have 99 caused many councils to restrict eligibility and reduce services, making …
Gov response: There is no response for this recommendation.
Not Addressed
#14 — Significant geographical disparities in children's home availability lead to unsuitable placements and poor outcomes.
Recommendation: There are disparities in the number and types of children’s home available in different areas across the country, particularly for children with more complex needs.29 For example, there are no secure homes across all of London, while South West England …
Gov response: 3. PAC conclusion: Providers of children’s homes, including local authorities, are not offering the places needed locally, leading to children being placed in homes that do not meet their needs.
Response Pending
#10 — Significant rise in children placed in unregistered homes with lengthy placement durations.
Recommendation: In recent years, the number of children reported to Ofsted as being placed in unregistered homes at some point each year rose significantly, from 147 during 2020–21 to 982 during 2023–24.20 More recently, the Children’s Commissioner found that as at …
Gov response: 2. PAC conclusion: It is unacceptable that children are placed in illegal settings that are not inspected, increasing safety risks and offering no assurance over the quality of care.
Response Pending
#7 — Local authority discretion in children's social care; national support rollout awaits Ministerial decisions.
Recommendation: The Department told us that local authorities have a lot of discretion to make decisions impacting children’s social care provision. It described how, for example, some local authorities provided foster carers with capital grants to convert and increase the space …
Response Pending
#40 — Young Offender Institutions routinely fail to meet minimum education hours for children
Recommendation: Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms that all children have the right to education, including those in detention. Yet Young Offender Institutions are routinely failing to meet the statutory minimum of 15 …
Gov response: Accept. The YCS recognises these failings and is addressing them through the Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education outlined in paragraph 76-77. Many children and young people in custody have a disrupted education before coming …
Accepted
#31 — Set statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions, with data published
Recommendation: As well as making every effort to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours for education, HMPPS must set a statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions. As with adult prisons, this minimum must be monitored …
Gov response: Partially Accept. We are committed to ensuring that children have the maximum possible time out of their rooms. We will consider introducing a statutory minimum for time out of room in legislation, and will assess …
Partially Accepted
#30 — Require Government to develop action plan for improving youth estate conditions, increasing time out of cell
Recommendation: The Government must respond to this report with an action plan as to how it plans to manage current conditions across the youth estate. For Young Offender Institutions, this should include what impact the introduction of 85 PAVA has had …
Gov response: Accept. We recognise that change was required to make improvements in the public sector YOIs and have developed a comprehensive plan to address the concerns raised by the inspectorate over the last decade. Site-specific action …
Accepted
#29 — Youth Custody Service and Young Offender Institutions fail children with excessive cell time
Recommendation: The Youth Custody Service, and in particular Young Offender Institutions, is clearly not working for children. Children should not be spending up to 23 hours a day in cell due to the failure of HMPPS to manage behaviour effectively. It …
Gov response: Accept. We recognise that change was required to make improvements in the public sector YOIs and have developed a comprehensive plan to address the concerns raised by the inspectorate over the last decade. Site-specific action …
Accepted
#31 — Significant failings in age assessment lead to children in adult asylum accommodation
Recommendation: There are significant failings in the current processes for making initial decisions about age and unreliable decisions are still leading to children being incorrectly placed in adult accommodation. We do not have confidence that the arrangements for accommodation providers to …
Gov response: The Home Office has made significant progress with regards to protecting the welfare of UASC. In line with the direction of the court, the Home Office closed all remaining emergency UASC hotels by January 2024 …
Not Addressed
#10 — Set out actions to hold poorly performing local authorities accountable for health visit delivery.
Recommendation: We are also highly concerned about the variation in performance amongst local authorities in delivering health visits. While it is clear that the system as a whole needs additional resourcing, it is unacceptable that some local authorities managed 100% uptake …
Response Pending
#17 —
Recommendation: Written evidence we received made it clear that some children with SEND struggled to learn remotely. SENSE told us that home learning resources were not always appropriate or tailored to the needs of children with complex disabilities, and that many …
Gov response: 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 As part of the department’s 2020-21 recovery plan, it is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), …
Under Consideration
#2 —
Recommendation: Only a small minority of vulnerable children attended school in the early stages of the pandemic, increasing the risk of hidden harm. The Department acknowledges that the pandemic presented real safeguarding challenges. It kept schools open for vulnerable children—for example, …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2022 2.2 The department continues to work with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) and local authorities (LAs) to collect, interpret …
Under Consideration
#15 —
Recommendation: Adoptive parents and their children have faced uniquely challenging situations without the access to the professional and informal support that they need. These children are among the most vulnerable in society. In the most serious situations, we’ve heard that the …
Gov response: The Government recognises that self-employed adopters are not entitled to a dedicated benefit (an “Adoption Allowance”) in the same way that the majority of self- employed mothers are eligible for Maternity Allowance. This is because …
Not Accepted
#13 — Ensure consistent identifiers alert schools and GPs when children move into temporary accommodation.
Recommendation: Currently, schools are not always notified when a pupil becomes homeless or changes school due to a move into temporary accommodation. This prevents schools from offering additional support which those children may require. Similarly, GPs are often unaware that families …
Gov response: 39. We recognise the importance of balancing responsibilities between central government and local authorities, and the importance of accountability. The homelessness strategy will provide more detail on this.
Under Consideration
#8 — Require Government strategy to end family placements in shared temporary accommodation within six weeks.
Recommendation: The Government’s forthcoming strategy on ending homelessness must set out a clear plan to end placements of families in temporary accommodation with shared facilities, starting by reducing and eliminating placements of over six weeks. (Recommendation, Paragraph 47) Out-of-area temporary accommodation
Gov response: As set out in response to recommendation 4 above, we do not agree with the Committee that it will never be appropriate for families to be accommodated in temporary accommodation with shared facilities. There can …
Not Accepted
#4 — Unlawful and prolonged use of B&Bs for family temporary accommodation is increasing.
Recommendation: The shortage of social housing in England has led local authorities to rely on using B&Bs and other accommodation with shared facilities as temporary accommodation, which are inappropriate and potentially unsafe environments for children to grow up in. The Government …
Gov response: 17. Where the temporary accommodation is not managed by a local authority, a registered social landlord, or voluntary organisation, accommodation types such as hostels as cited in the report will be covered by the definition …
Accepted
HMICFRS Recommendations (15)
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Wiltshire Police
Cause of concern: The force is failing to understand and promptly identify vulnerability at the first point of contact. Recommendation: Wiltshire Police should, within three months:- make sure that call handlers are skilled enough to identify vulnerability and warning signs …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Wiltshire Police
Cause of concern: The force does not protect vulnerable people from harm to an acceptable standard. Recommendation: Wiltshire Police should, within three months, make sure that:- analysis of police and partner data on offending against vulnerable people is improved and …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is unable to manage current demand effectively. It doesn’t have enough capacity or capability to respond to calls effectively, or to investigate crime as well as it should. Too often, this is affecting the service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is unable to manage current demand effectively. It doesn’t have enough capacity or capability to respond to calls effectively, or to investigate crime as well as it should. Too often, this is affecting the service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is unable to manage current demand effectively. It doesn’t have enough capacity or capability to respond to calls effectively, or to investigate crime as well as it should. Too often, this is affecting the service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is unable to manage current demand effectively. It doesn’t have enough capacity or capability to respond to calls effectively, or to investigate crime as well as it should. Too often, this is affecting the service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Thames Valley Police
Cause of concern: Thames Valley Police needs to improve its performance in the multi-agency safeguarding hubs to better protect vulnerable people. Recommendation: Within six months, Thames Valley Police should have sustainable safeguarding systems and processes, with sufficient trained personnel in …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene and victims are …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene. This enduring service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene. This enduring service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene. This enduring service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene. This enduring service …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: West Midlands Police
Cause of concern: The force needs to make sure that its multi-agency risk assessment conferences work effectively to keep vulnerable people safe. Recommendation: Immediately, West Midlands Police should review the backlog of cases waiting to be discussed at multi-agency risk …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Greater Manchester Police
Cause of concern: Greater Manchester Police is failing to respond appropriately to some people who are vulnerable and at risk. This means that it is missing some opportunities to safeguard victims and secure evidence at the scene and victims are …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Cleveland Police
Cause of concern: Cleveland Police is failing to respond appropriately to vulnerable people, including children. It is missing opportunities to safeguard them and is exposing them to risk. Recommendation: The force must take immediate action to ensure that: • it …
Recommendation
ICIBI Immigration Recommendations (3)
An inspection of the use of hotels for housing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children …
Work with partners to provide written information for children, as necessary in their own first language, including: a) what will happen to them next, in terms of their transfer and …
A re-inspection of the use of hotels for housing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children …
Work with partners to provide written information for children, as necessary in their own first language, including: a) what will happen to them next, in terms of their transfer and …
An inspection of asylum casework (August 2020 – May 2021)
Prioritise claims for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), as per the Immigration Rules
IOPC Learning Recommendations (6)
Recommendations - Northamptonshire Police, March 2021
The IOPC recommends that Northamptonshire Police takes steps to ensure that custody officers are best supported to decide whether to authorise the detention of a juvenile. This shoud include consideration of whether appropriate sources of advice are available to custody …
Police contact with man preceding murder – Derbyshire Constabulary, February 2020
The IOPC recommends that Derbyshire Constabulary should explore ways to highlight previous incidents, in respect of a person or address; when a new incident log is created or when the information is sought. Police responded to five separate calls over …
Police contact with man preceding murder – Derbyshire Constabulary, February 2020
The IOPC recommends that Derbyshire Police should write and implement a comprehensive Vulnerable Adult Policy that incorporates ACPO guidance and complements existing local authority safeguarding policies. As a result of this incident, Derbyshire Police have introduced guidance and learning for …
Reported concerns of welfare and subsequent police actions to conduct a missing …
The IOPC recommends the Metropolitan Police Service North Wembley borough command unit (BCU) reviews its current missing person investigation and supervision process to; As part of an ongoing IOPC investigation into the missing persons investigations of two females by the …
Investigation into police contact with a woman and response to concerns for …
The IOPC Recommends that West Yorkshire Police (WYP) should review current policy and guidance in relation to safeguarding of victims of crime to ensure that, where more than one force is involved, safeguarding responsibilities are appropriately agreed between the forces, …
Investigation into police contact with a woman and response to concerns for …
The IOPC Recommends that North Yorkshire Police (NYP) should review current policy and guidance in relation to safeguarding of victims of crime to ensure that, where more than one force is involved, safeguarding responsibilities are appropriately agreed between the forces, …
NAO Audit Recommendations (4)
Support for vulnerable adolescents
We recommend that those central government departments involved should, through formal governance, work together to: d) set out how they will support local bodies to improve local safeguarding arrangements and respond to the two recent reviews which found they were …
Accepted
Support for vulnerable adolescents
We recommend that those central government departments involved should, through formal governance, work together to: a) build on recent data-sharing exercises to understand better the relationship between risk factors and adverse outcomes for vulnerable adolescents;
Accepted
Support for children’s education during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic
d) act quickly on its early assessments of the catch-up programme during 2020/21, to ensure that the funding is achieving value for money and the National Tutoring Programme schemes are reaching disadvantaged children as intended; and
Accepted
Support for children’s education during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic
b) put in place effective monitoring to track the longer-term impact of COVID-19 disruption on all pupils’ development and attainment, with a particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and take action in light of the results;
Accepted
IMB Annual Reports (2)
Cardiff (2021)
HMP Cardiff maintained a reasonably safe and humane environment during the reporting year despite significant Covid-19 challenges. Self-harm and use of force incidents reduced, and healthcare staffing improved, but a restrictive regime impacted prisoner wellbeing and purposeful activity. Key concerns include a lack of mental health transfer beds, inadequate accommodation on release, and ongoing issues with prison infrastructure and perceived discrimination against BAME prisoners.
PRISON
Key concerns
South and West Short Term Holding Facilities 2023 -24 (2023)
This inaugural report for the South and West Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) highlights both positive aspects and significant concerns during the reporting year. While facilities generally prioritized safety and staff interaction was respectful, persistent issues with record-keeping, insufficient staffing leading to prolonged CWA detentions, and the withdrawal of hot food were prominent. The Board recommended improvements across Home Office and facility management to enhance the humane treatment and welfare of detainees.
PRISON
Key concerns
IMB Recommendations (28)
Heathrow Short Term Holding Facility (2020)
[London Heathrow Airport] The Detention Contractor should arrange for a DCO or other responsible adult to sit in the family holding room with a young or otherwise vulnerable unaccompanied child (para. 6.6).
Other
Werrington (2023)
Is it safe to keep together a third of the establishment’s population who are over 18 years old with two-thirds who are under 18?
Other
Pentonville (2023)
What additional measures will you take to ensure the safety and access to activities of vulnerable prisoners who, due to a lack of space on the vulnerable prisoners’ unit, are housed separately?
Governor / Director
Pentonville (2023)
Will HMPPS commit to the expediting of the transfer of sentenced vulnerable prisoners from Pentonville to other more suitable establishments, where they can be kept safe and have access to offence-based courses?
HMPPS
London STHF (2023)
The Board has observed that some children had extended waits in the CWA. The facilities in the CWA do not compare with the environment in the family holding room and the Board would like to see these children accommodated in the holding room instead.
Other
Werrington (2024)
With the closure of YOI Cookham Wood, the Board believes it is inhumane that about a quarter of young people, who are legally recognised as children, are accommodated at Werrington from the other end of the country, far away from family? How does the Minister intend to address this serious issue?
Ministry of Justice
Swinfen Hall (2024)
Can the Minister instruct the Ministry of Justice to implement a system to record the details of all children affected by parental imprisonment at the time of sentencing to assist prisons in providing prisoner family support?
Ministry of Justice
London short term holding facilities (STHF) (2025)
The Board has observed that some children had extended waits in the CWA. The facilities in the CWA do not compare with the environment of a family holding room and the Board would like to see these children accommodated in the holding room instead.
Home Office
Yarl’s Wood (2020)
The Board recommends that the Centre should maintain its vigilance in the identification of vulnerable persons and minors.
Governor / Director
Yarl’s Wood (2020)
Vulnerable adults are still being detained despite there being a pilot underway to explore an enhanced pre-detention screening tool to help facilitate the disclosure of vulnerability. The Board recommends that a clear evaluation of this pilot is published to ensure that the measures necessary for the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals are in place.
Ministry of Justice
Heathrow Short Term Holding Facility (2020)
[London Heathrow Airport] The Detention Contractor should ensure that DCOs are proactive in their care for older children (para. 6.7).
Other
Dover (2020)
Supervision of detainees in the holding rooms should be improved during times when the holding rooms are close to full capacity in particular to safeguard the needs of children detainees who are vulnerable.
Other
Gatwick IRC/RSTHF (2022)
Undertake a complete review of Adults at Risk, ACDT and Rule 35 policy and procedure (repeated from 2019, 2020 and 2021) (section 4.4.1).
Home Office
Wetherby (2023)
Although every young person has been released to an address, not all addresses are deemed to be suitable by the social care team. Local authorities have been challenged on this on more than 29 occasions. What can be done to assure young people and the Board that this unsatisfactory situation will be improved?
Other
South and West Short Term Holding Facilities 2023 -24 (2023)
The Board recommends the Minister to confer with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that minors are kept in detention for the minimum time.
Home Office
Werrington (2025)
Why are children with complex needs sent to Werrington when there are no specialist facilities available? And why is it so time-consuming to get them transferred? How will this be improved?
HMPPS
Heathrow Short Term Holding Facility (2020)
[London Heathrow Airport] The Detention Contractor should ensure that the toys are kept in good repair and in a clean condition and that the DVD boxes are stored so that children can easily see what is available (para.6.12).
Other
Belmarsh (2021)
Will the prison appoint champions in each houseblock to be responsible for care leavers (see section 4.4 Safeguarding)?
Governor / Director
Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Lunar House (2022)
The short-term holding facilities at Gatwick airport’s North Terminal, for families, children and vulnerable detained individuals should be improved, by the provision of additional accommodation.
Home Office
Gatwick IRC/RSTHF (2022)
Improve the proactivity with which caseowners and local Home Office staff address the immigration cases of all detained men, and particularly those who are vulnerable, long-staying or disengaging (sections 4.4.1, 6.3, 7.2, 7.2.4).
Home Office
Lewes (2023)
Will the Governor ensure that the induction processes at HMP Lewes are improved and that the vulnerable prisoners wing is not used for new receptions in the future?
Governor / Director
Feltham (2023)
What will the Government do to achieve better information sharing between Social Services and Youth Custody Services so that Looked After Children (LAC) can easily receive their statutory entitlements? Will you follow up on measures promised last year about how this can be addressed?
Other
London STHF (2024)
The Board has observed that some children had extended waits in the CWA. There are no facilities for children in the CWA, nor is the environment comparable to that in the family room. The Board would like to see these children accommodated in the holding room instead.
Home Office
Nottingham (2020)
We have concerns regarding the wider circumstance of a falling population of those convicted of a sexual offence, resulting in wings for these prisoners also being used to house prisoners who are vulnerable because of other issues. Given that this is a service-wide circumstance, it may be an area that merits strategic reconsideration by the Director-General of Prisons.
HMPPS
Wetherby (2023)
The Board remains concerned about the suitability of placing girls at Wetherby, in their present accommodation. When will a decision be reached regarding their future placement?
Ministry of Justice
Heathrow immigration removal centre (2023)
There are many people detained at HIRC who have been identified as Adults at Risk (AAR) Level 3 and who have been in the detention centre for more than 80 days. These individuals should be released from Heathrow IRC as soon possible.
Home Office
Pentonville (2024)
Growing numbers of prisoners accused or convicted of sex offences are held in Pentonville. Delivering a meaningful and rehabilitative regime to this vulnerable group safely is very challenging. Will HMPPS commit to delivering greater local support and a national strategy?
HMPPS
Altcourse (2025)
Are there any permanent solutions to the problems caused by housing an overspill of vulnerable prisoners on the induction unit (Bechers)?
Governor / Director
LGO / SPSO Decisions (330)
24-009-954 — Bristol City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s response to her complaint and safeguarding concern relating to her ex-partners child and girlfriend. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Nov 2024
24-012-072 — Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Miss D complained that the Council delayed progressing grant-funded adaptations to her home. As a result, her family has been overcrowded for over four years. The Council has accepted there was delay. It has agreed to make a payment to Miss D to remedy the distress caused.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
May 2025
24-022-424 — London Borough of Harrow
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in removing Miss X’s infant child. She has commenced court action to seek the return of her child and a legal bar thus permanently prevents us considering the Council’s actions.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
May 2025
25-004-797 — Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with his concerns about an investigation into bullying at his son’s school. This is because the complaint is made late to us.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Sep 2025
25-006-946 — Reading Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to consider his complaint until ongoing family court proceedings have concluded. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Sep 2025
25-007-928 — North Yorkshire Council
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the police interviewed children without parental consent, and the Council misadvised the school. This is because we do not have the power to investigate the actions of the police. For those complaints within our jurisdiction, further investigation would not lead to a different …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Oct 2025
25-010-400 — Sheffield City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to ongoing family court proceedings which have led to her children being removed from her care. This is because there is no sign of fault in the Council’s decision not to consider her complaint until the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Nov 2025
25-009-059 — Leeds City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about information the Council has recorded about him. It is too late for us to consider some of his complaint. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify us investigating other more recent issues. The law prevents us …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Nov 2025
25-008-741 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Ms X’s complaint. The substantive matters are better considered by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Any injustice relating to the Council’s complaint handling is not significant enough to warrant our involvement.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Nov 2025
24-000-836 — Somerset Council
Summary: Mrs X complained of the Council’s handling of her Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) application after it delayed commissioning a contractor to carry out adaptations to her house for her disabled son (Y). The Council is at fault because it took 16 months after receiving Mrs X’s DFG application to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Dec 2024
25-019-278 — London Borough of Croydon
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-013-710 — Nottingham City Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-012-138 — London Borough of Lambeth
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-013-075 — London Borough of Bexley
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-012-261 — Kent County Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-013-044 — London Borough of Barnet
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-002-240 — London Borough of Lewisham
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
24-021-332 — Birmingham City Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
25-012-142 — Brighton & Hove City Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
25-010-688 — Surrey County Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
21-013-222 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to provide the complainant with information about what it has said to his ex-wife. This is because there is no evidence of fault on the Council’s part.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jan 2022
21-006-743 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council’s investigation into a disclosure by his daughter was inadequate and that a social worker made a false statement about him to his daughter’s mother. The Council is not at fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Not Upheld
Jan 2022
21-004-445 — Devon County Council
Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to respond to her concerns about the care of her two children, who were in foster care. We found the Council at fault for failing to tell Miss X she could return to the complaints process after concurrent investigations were complete. We recommended …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jan 2022
20-006-042 — London Borough of Havering
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s actions after something that happened at his son’s school. I have discontinued my investigation. This is because we cannot investigate what happens in schools and there is no evidence that the Council’s investigation and assessment or complaint handling caused significant injustice to Mr …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jan 2022
21-013-118 — London Borough of Bexley
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ actions. It is unlikely our investigation could achieve significantly more than the Council has already offered.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jan 2022
22-001-381 — Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council failed to financially support a placement in late 2016/early 2017 when he cared for a grandchild. Mr X complains late and could have complained sooner.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jun 2022
21-006-448 — Torbay Council
Summary: Ms X complains about the Council handling since it placed two grandchildren (Child Y and Child Z) in her care. The Council was at fault for delays in providing support to Child Y, responding to Ms X’s complaints and completing recommendations made during the children’s statutory complaints process. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jun 2022
22-003-225 — Cumbria County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has delayed to a complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jul 2022
21-016-233 — Nottingham City Council
Summary: Mr B complained that the Council failed to provide support to him as a care leaver and failed to consider his complaint properly. We found Mr B was not a care leaver in terms of the law and so the Council does not have a duty towards him. But …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2022
21-006-071 — Kingston Upon Hull City Council
Summary: There was fault in how the Council dealt with Ms B when it placed her siblings in her care. The Council has completed the statutory children’s complaints process, which means the issues have been independently investigated, and a Panel has reviewed the investigation. The Council has acknowledged there was …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2022
22-003-528 — Royal Borough of Greenwich
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council changing a looked after child’s bank account. It is unlikely we would recommend any further remedy.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Aug 2022
22-003-832 — London Borough of Croydon
Summary: Ms Y complains the Council failed to consider whether her family’s housing conditions meant any of her children were ‘in need’ (under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989). We found fault by the Council, which meant Ms Y missed out on the Council carrying out Child in Need …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Oct 2022
23-019-715 — Hertfordshire County Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council removing her children from her care under false pretences because the Ombudsman cannot investigate matters which are being dealt with in a court of law.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2024
23-019-488 — Medway Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. This is because there is no sign of fault in the Council’s decision not to consider her complaint because she does not have parental responsibility for her grandchildren.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2024
23-020-148 — Cumberland Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay on the Council’s part in completing the statutory procedure for complaints about children’s services matters. This is because there is insufficient outstanding injustice to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2024
24-005-818 — Middlesbrough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint. This is because there is no sign of fault in the Council’s decision not to consider her complaint whilst there are ongoing court proceedings.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Aug 2024
23-018-063 — Devon County Council
Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s actions in respect of its care of her daughter, Miss Y, and the way in which it dealt with her complaint about the matter. We have not found fault with the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Aug 2024
23-018-379 — Southend-on-Sea City Council
Summary: Mrs Y complains about the Council’s decision to approve her as a connected foster carer. As a result of that decision, Mrs Y says she has experienced financial loss because the Council has not paid the relevant fostering fees. We have not investigated the whole complaint because the Council’s …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Sep 2024
24-008-441 — London Borough of Havering
Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council manged her savings as a looked after child.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Apr 2025
24-009-233 — Devon County Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with foster carer payments. The Council was at fault for having unclear policies in place and failing to respond fully to Mr X’s complaint. This caused Mr X distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, make payments and provide evidence …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
May 2025
24-013-866 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not deal properly with a safeguarding investigation regarding a foster family. The Council acted disproportionately, and unprofessionally. Miss X suffered avoidable distress. The Council should pay Miss X £1500.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2025
24-020-172 — London Borough of Redbridge
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services’ actions. We have upheld Miss X’s complaint as the Council has now agreed to follow the Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure and has agreed a proportionate way to resolve the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2025
24-016-713 — Surrey County Council
Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council has delivered social care for Y. The Council was at fault for not commencing a stage two statutory investigation under the Children Act 1989, causing distress, uncertainty and frustration to Mrs X. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2025
24-004-212 — London Borough of Hillingdon
Summary: The Council has agreed to commission an independent investigation of Mrs M’s complaint at the second stage of the statutory children’s services complaints process. We consider this an appropriate response to her concerns.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2025
24-012-792 — London Borough of Harrow
Summary: Miss Y complains the Council did not properly investigate the injuries her child obtained whilst in Council arranged foster care. We find procedural fault which creates uncertainty about the Council’s consideration of the injuries. The Council will pay £500 in recognition of that distress and remind staff of the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Jul 2025
25-005-504 — London Borough of Croydon
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse Mrs X’s application for a Blue Badge for her daughter. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Sep 2025
25-003-931 — Kingston Upon Hull City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the content of a Child and Family Assessment completed by the Council’s social worker. Investigation would not lead to a different outcome and is not therefore warranted.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Sep 2025
25-000-049 — London Borough of Haringey
Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to carry out the recommendations set out by the statutory complaints process. We find the Council at fault for failing to complete the recommendations in the panel review, causing uncertainty and frustration for Ms X. The Council should apologise, reconsider the remedy findings …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Sep 2025
25-011-399 — London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: We have upheld Miss X’s complaint because the Council delayed considering her complaint at stage three 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 to Miss X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Sep 2025
25-003-216 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about matters related to the care arrangements of her child. This is because it concerns matters that have formed part of court proceedings.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Oct 2025