Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (20 011 777)

Statement Upheld Adoption 26-Sep-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs P complain about their dealings with the Council in the course of their adoption of their son, B. An independent investigation upheld 14 of their 15 complaints. The Council accepted the investigator’s findings and recommendations. I agree with the independent investigator’s findings and the action the Council has taken in response.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (21 007 563)

Statement Upheld Adoption 12-Sep-2021

Summary: The Council is at fault for delaying considering a complaint at stage three of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has agreed to start its stage three investigation without delay and will offer to make a payment to the complainant to remedy the time and trouble its delay has caused him.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (21 006 099)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 20-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council not providing historic adoption records. This is because the Council signposted the complainant to the correct body to resolve her complaint. There is nothing further to be achieved by way of an investigation at this time.

Southampton City Council (21 004 121)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 16-Aug-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the adoption of Miss B’s son. This is because the law prevents us from considering decisions made in court, and actions relating to them.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (20 009 613)

Statement Upheld Adoption 12-Aug-2021

Summary: the Council failed to complete an Asset Plus assessment initially as its policy requires and this amounts fault. However, this did not cause injustice so the Council is not required to take any action

Isle of Wight Council (21 003 833)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 10-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement in her family, which led to her daughter being adopted in 2016. This is because this decision was made during court proceedings.

London Borough of Wandsworth (19 020 143)

Statement Upheld Adoption 06-Aug-2021

Summary: Ms B complained about the way the Council failed to progress her adoption assessment and delayed in dealing with her complaint about it. This delayed her approval as an adopter by over two years. The Council accepted the failings, apologised to Ms B and offered her £2000. We agreed the Council was at fault and that the payment is appropriate to put right the injustice. The Council has agreed to assist Ms B to progress a new application now.

Kent County Council (21 001 608)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 02-Aug-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about his son being wrongfully adopted because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about matters that have been considered and decided in court.

Hertfordshire County Council (20 000 831)

Statement Upheld Adoption 27-Jul-2021

Summary: Mrs M complained the Council had not properly considered her adoption application or fairly assessed her. She said the Council had discriminated against her due to her ethnicity and her husband’s mental health. She said this has stopped her being considered properly for adoption and caused delay and distress. The Council were at fault for not following the statutory guidance and have agreed to a remedy for the injustice caused to Mrs M.

Milton Keynes Council (20 011 080)

Statement Upheld Adoption 30-Jun-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with how the Council managed the complainant’s assessment for adoption allowance payments. The Ombudsman also finds fault with the Council for failing to advise the complainant of his appeal rights. This caused uncertainty and distress to the complainant. The Council has agreed to provide a financial remedy to the complainant and reinstate the support until a new assessment is completed.