Kent County Council (23 011 059)

Statement Upheld Adoption 13-Mar-2024

Summary: Mr B says the Council failed to process a request for life story work and information about his daughter’s birth parents. The Council delayed taking action and failed to properly consider the regulations and statutory guidance. An apology, payment to Mr B and his daughter and arranging a meeting to discuss who will take forward the life story work is satisfactory remedy.

Leicestershire County Council (23 013 862)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 19-Jan-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council social worker’s alleged misconduct. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a worthwhile outcome.

Surrey County Council (23 004 581)

Statement Upheld Adoption 12-Jan-2024

Summary: Mr X complains about several issues concerning how the Council responded to his request for some post adoption support. He complains about several delays, the support proposed, advice given and the Council’s refusal to fund some of the family’s costs. The Ombudsman’s decision is there was fault with some delays and with not responding to Mr X’s complaint through the statutory children’s complaint procedure. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X and his family. But we cannot question the merits of the professional assessment, or the proposed therapy that was commissioned from that assessment.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (23 013 444)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 10-Jan-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions leading to a decision to place Miss X’s child for adoption. This matter is not separable from the question of where and with whom the child should live, which only a court can decide.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 013 081)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 09-Jan-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about children services’ actions nearly 30 years ago. It is unlikely our investigation could reach a fair and robust decision.

Milton Keynes Council (23 006 330)

Statement Upheld Adoption 03-Jan-2024

Summary: We found fault with the way the Council carried out the statutory children’s complaint procedure for the complainant (Ms X). This fault caused Ms X injustice. The Council has already apologised and agreed to complete stage three of the procedure and to make a symbolic payment to recognise Ms X’s distress. The Council also agreed to review its statutory children’s complaint procedure and provide training to its staff.

Staffordshire County Council (23 015 106)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 22-Dec-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council’s social worker’s alleged mistreatment of Mrs X. This is because the issues raised are inextricably linked to ongoing court proceedings.

Suffolk County Council (23 003 450)

Statement Upheld Adoption 04-Dec-2023

Summary: Mrs D complains about the way the Council dealt with her statutory children’s complaint. We found there was fault in the Council’s final response, which has caused Mrs D time and trouble. The Council has agreed to issue a new response.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (23 011 523)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 24-Nov-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council was at fault in its treatment of the complainant and her husband as potential adopters. This is because there is no evidence of fault on the Council’s part causing demonstrable injustice.

Luton Borough Council (23 010 227)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 02-Nov-2023

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to suspend payments Mr X and his partner were receiving to care for their foster children. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.