Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (24 001 973)

Statement Upheld Adoption 20-Jan-2025

Summary: X complained about how the Council dealt with their complaints concerning children’s and educational services for C. We found there was avoidable delay by the Council both in assessing C’s educational needs and issuing a final Education, Health and Care Plan and in its children’s statutory complaints procedure. The delays caused X and C avoidable distress and uncertainty, which the Council agreed to put right by sending them a written apology and making a symbolic financial payment.

West Northamptonshire Council (24 015 235)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 17-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the way the Council has dealt with Miss X’s niece since she was placed in care. We could not add to the Council’s response and the law prevents us from investigating anything that has happened in court.

Lancashire County Council (24 013 426)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 16-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to backdate adoption allowance for the complainant’s adopted daughter. This is because there is no evidence that the decision is flawed.

Lancashire County Council (23 018 745)

Statement Upheld Adoption 18-Dec-2024

Summary: Mrs B complained about the extent of support she had received over recent years from the Council, in meeting the needs of her adopted child. We upheld the complaint, finding the Council failed to provide some services, despite saying it would in response to a complaint and following assessments. This resulted in a loss of service and distress to Mrs B. The Council accepted these findings and agreed action to remedy this injustice, set out at the end of this statement.

Derby City Council (23 019 832)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 22-Nov-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing to add to its records that a court document about Miss X had incorrectly stated she had twice declined mother and baby placements. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed than us to deal with matters of alleged data inaccuracy as it has powers to require rectification and impose penalties that we lack.

London Borough of Enfield (24 004 921)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 05-Nov-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Miss X’s child being removed from her care. The key decisions are for the courts, not just the Council. We cannot investigate the commencement or conduct of court action, or the court’s decision-making.

Essex County Council (23 017 341)

Statement Upheld Adoption 31-Oct-2024

Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mr D and Mr E that they did not receive enough support from the Council when they adopted a child from its area. In particular, when they needed support with the child’s challenging behaviours. We considered fault by the Council caused them unnecessary distress. The Council accepted these findings. At the end of this statement, we set out the action it has agreed to take to remedy their injustice and make service improvements.

Luton Borough Council (24 003 870)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 21-Oct-2024

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s post adoption support for her daughters. This is because, since we received the complaint, the Council has provided Mrs X with a right to review at stage three if she is still dissatisfied. Therefore, we will not investigate further.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (23 019 787)

Statement Not upheld Adoption 10-Oct-2024

Summary: The Council was not at fault in how it decided Mr X’s adoption allowance. Although it departed from recommendations originally made by the government – which are widely used by other councils – it has provided a reasonable explanation for doing so.

Kent County Council (24 007 053)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Adoption 25-Sep-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to take action to identify the complainant’s daughter’s needs and put appropriate provision and therapies in place to address them. This is because part of the complaint is late and there are no grounds to consider it now, and investigation would not achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.