Decision Report 202110675

Summary

C complained that the social work service unreasonably failed to carry out an appropriate assessment of their grandchild (A)'s parents. They also complained about the level of support provided to the parents. In particular, C complained that there was too much focus on the past behaviours of the parents, and that social work had unreasonably planned for A to be adopted prior to their birth. C also said a social worker showing bias towards the parents, and that social work had interfered with a housing transfer application.

We took independent advice from a social worker. We found that the assessment of the parents undertaken by social work had been reasonable, noting that the relevant guidance required for the past behaviours of parents to be considered as part of a wider comprehensive assessment to determine future risks to a child. We also found the plan to move A to the adoption register had occurred over a period of time, and we did not find evidence to support C's view that it had been planned prior to A's birth. We considered the overall level of support provided to the parents had been reasonable, including in relation to the housing transfer application. In relation to C's complaint about the social worker, we did not find evidence to support that a full investigation of this point had taken place, and we provided feedback to the council on this matter. Overall, we considered that the assessment and support provided to the parents by social work had been reasonable. We did not uphold C's complaints.