Ombudsman outlines learning from cases where councils have taken “too long” to put support in place for adoptive families
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has highlighted key learning points from a number of cases where councils have delayed responding to requests from adoptive families to help with support post-adoption.
The Ombudsman warned that councils need to get the support they offer to families right, or they “risk family units breaking down”.
In one case highlighted in the report, a family was not told about their child’s health condition prior to adoption, which had long-term consequences for them as a family unit.
The Ombudsman said: “Unforeseen difficulties can occur after a child has been adopted which councils could not have predicted or known at the time of placement. But councils are under a duty to ensure that prospective adopters are told of possible known risks and councils must gather all relevant information about the birth family.”
In another case, an adoptive family was left struggling to cope with a child with significant complex needs because the council capped how much financial support they would receive to meet those needs, without telling them why.
The Ombudsman’s investigation found fault by the council because it “could not explain the rationale behind its policy” or how it had decided to cap the mother’s adoption allowance.
Outlining learning from the case, the watchdog said: “Councils should have due regard to statutory guidance and have a consistent and clear rationale for the policies they adopt. They should record how they apply them in each case.”
The Ombudsman observed that in other cases, poor information at the start of the adoption process had discouraged potential adoptive parents coming forward.
The report concludes with a number of questions the watchdog is urging councillors and heads of adoption services to use to “scrutinise the services they offer”, to ensure children receive the best possible outcomes in their area.
Suggested questions include:
- In the past year, how many adopters have asked for an assessment for post-adoption support and how long does it take the council to respond to an initial enquiry?
- How many adoption disruptions have there been in the past year leading to the child returning to care. What has happened to these children?
- How many adopted children have an EHC Plan and are they receiving suitable education?
- How does the council enable concerns to be raised by adopters without fear that it will be held against them?
Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “Adopted children often have some of the most challenging starts to life, lacking in stability and continuity of care, so it is all the more important that councils get things right for them and their families.
“In all these cases, there are vulnerable children and families trying to do their best for them. Councils need to get their processes, and the support they offer to these families, right or they risk family units breaking down.
“I urge councils to read my report and take stock of the good practice advice it offers to ensure they are giving the best possible chances to children, young people and their families in their area.”
Lottie Winson
