therefore referred the matter to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman who stated that the complaint was outside his remit. The matter was then referred to the Parliamentary Health Ombudsman (PHO). The PHO eventually agreed to investigate the claim and earlier this year upheld most of the complaint. The PHO?s report confirmed that there were serious failings in the way that our client?s case was handled that were unacceptable. The report illustrates that our client suffered not only from unnecessary delay resulting in up to at least 4 months of time in prison when he might have otherwise have been in hospital receiving much needed care, but also from delays in the handling of the complaint which meant that his concerns were not addressed for a very long time and were simply passed from pillar to post. In addition, almost five years on, our client has finally been given a full apology and a modest award of compensation by the local Foundation Trust. Social welfare help for young people Many children in prison are children in need. But they have often ?fallen through the net? and not received help and support from social services. Children often contact us where they have been unable to get social services to help them, especially where they need safe accommodation on release from prison. Sometimes, children spend extra time in prison unnecessarily because they have nowhere safe to go. A, 15 years old, contacted the Howard League through a children?s advocate. He had behaved well