London Borough of Newham (21 018 701)
Category : Children's care services > Adoption
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 18 Apr 2022
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to a request for a copy of an adoption certificate. This is because it is unlikely an investigation would achieve a worthwhile outcome or add anything to the Council’s response.
The complaint
- The complainant, Miss X, complained the Council could not provide a copy of her adoption certificate. Miss X was adopted in 1987. Miss X needs the certificate so her adoptive parents can move overseas to where Miss X now lives. Miss X says the Council failed to properly guide her family through the adoption process.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- In its responses to Miss X’s enquiries the Council has explained the adoption was a private one. Miss X was not looked after by the Council. Its role was to provide a report to help the adopters with their application to the Court. The Council says it has no record of the adoption being approved by the Court – nor does the General Register Office.
- I understand how important the issue at the heart of this complaint is to Miss X and her family. But we will not start an investigation. This is because it is unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response. We could not say what happened over 30 years ago or give Miss X the outcome she wants.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response or achieve the outcome she wants.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman