The Council agreed to deliver briefings to social workers in its children in care service clarifying its policy and expectations when a child being adopted has welfare benefits in payment that need to transfer to the adopted parents; and when they have a personal education plan that must transfer to a new school or local authority area. This is to avoid a repeat of the confusion found during this investigation over both these matters.The Council agreed to review the support services it offers to adoptive parents in the time between a child moving into their care and an Adoption Order being made. It agreed a need for a clear procedure to show who was responsible for considering requests for services from adoptive parents and what services it may offer, including mental health support for the child or parents. It also agreed to consider what further training or support its social workers may need if faced with such requests. This is to avoid a repeat of fault found, where adoptive parents asked for and needed support, but the Council failed to respond in good time or provide adequate support until the Adoption Order was made.

Remind staff of the importance of considering complaints about children’s social care services via the correct process.