Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (19 019 553)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 23-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr Z’s complaint about the lack of support from the Council following his adoption of his son. This is because the complaint is late and there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council causing Mr Z injustice, so investigation is not warranted.

Kent County Council (19 005 075)

Statement Not upheld Adoption 17-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X and Ms Y complained the Council did not provide appropriate support when two children were placed with them on an adoption placement. They said the lack of support led to the failure of the placement. They also said the Council’s complaint investigation was flawed. There was no fault in how the Council considered their complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. As it appropriately considered the complaint, the Ombudsman will not re-investigate.

City of Wolverhampton Council (19 008 563)

Statement Upheld Adoption 12-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs C complained about delays and poor communication by the Council during the adoption of their second child, D. The Council accepts it was at fault and has offered to pay Mr and Mrs C £500.

Norfolk County Council (19 009 237)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 10-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr F’s complaint about the Council’s failure to disclose information before he adopted his daughter, and his claim for compensation, are out of time. Even if was not late, the Ombudsman cannot assess Mr F’s claim for loss of earnings. Mr F says what he really wants is information. The Council has invited Mr F to see his daughter’s files.

London Borough of Hackney (19 014 432)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 29-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about information the Council’s children services team gave a Court. We cannot investigate legal proceedings.

Lancashire County Council (19 005 959)

Statement Upheld Adoption 19-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to stop her foster allowance and delayed in dealing with her complaint about this. Mrs X says this caused her injustice as she now has a large debt with the Council. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council in how it managed the overpayment and how it responded to Mrs X’s complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X, write off half of the overpayment and pay Mrs X for the distress caused.

Gloucestershire County Council (19 011 034)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 05-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an alleged data breach by the Council. This is because this is a matter best considered by the Information Commissioner’s office.

Manchester City Council (19 010 176)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 26-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman should not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s response to her whistleblowing report. The events central to her report are historic and there are no compelling reasons the late complaint rule should not apply.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (19 010 180)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 21-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about why a child was not placed with him with a view to adoption between December 2018 and July 2019. The Court approved the decisions on the child’s care, and we cannot investigate Court proceedings.

Nottinghamshire County Council (18 016 699)

Statement Not upheld Adoption 13-Nov-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s refusal to accept her and her husband to stage 2 of the process to become adoptive parents, causing distress. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the Council’s decision making process.