The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found faults in the way a proposed adoption was handled in 2023 by a regional adoption partnership that involved Hounslow Council, and has ordered apologies and compensation to the prospective adopters.
What the Ombudsman found
The investigation identified a number of procedural shortcomings during the matching process. Among the faults were prospective adopters being encouraged to prepare for adoption leave before the match had been formally approved, delays in arranging a meeting with a medical adviser, and failures to properly record key meetings and communications.
The three local authorities involved were operating within the Adopt London West arrangements: Ealing Council acted as the lead authority for the regional adoption agency, Hounslow Council was the child’s corporate parent, and Southwark Council carried out the assessment and approval of the prospective adopters.
Outcome and remedies ordered
The Ombudsman concluded the errors caused the couple "avoidable distress, grief and uncertainty" and imposed remedies. Each council has been told to apologise and to pay the couple £750, making a total of £2,250 across the three authorities. In addition, Ealing Council must reimburse expenses the couple incurred during "meet before match" meetings after it was judged they had not been informed beforehand that costs would not be covered.
| Council | Role in process | Remedy ordered |
|---|---|---|
| Ealing | Lead authority for Adopt London West | Apology, £750, reimburse meeting expenses |
| Hounslow | Child’s corporate parent | Apology, £750 |
| Southwark | Assessed and approved prospective adopters | Apology, £750 |
Wider recommendations and implications
Beyond the individual remedies, the Ombudsman recommended a series of service improvements for the councils and the regional adoption agencies involved. These include clearer written guidance for prospective adopters about "meet before match" meetings, expenses and photography, better use of encrypted messaging where appropriate, and improved handling of adoption-related complaints. The Ombudsman also noted that, while the faults caused distress and extra work for the couple, it could not determine whether the placement would have proceeded had the failings not occurred.
The findings highlight the complexity of multi-authority adoption arrangements and the potential for communication and record-keeping problems when responsibilities are split across different bodies. For families and prospective adopters, those weaknesses can translate into emotional uncertainty and financial cost.
Local residents seeking more information about adoption in Hounslow or wanting to raise concerns should consult their council’s children’s services or the Adopt London West regional adoption agency for up-to-date guidance on the matching process and how expenses and meetings are handled.
