What to do if you are unhappy with decisions made about your enquiry/application
If you are unhappy about decisions taken by social work during the course of your application, you have a right to request that these decisions are reviewed. The process for reviewing the decision depends on the stage your application has reached.
Occasionally social workers will advise applicants that they do not believe their application should proceed. In all cases a decision not to proceed with an application will be confirmed to the applicants in writing with the reasons for the decision clearly set out. Applicants who disagree with a decision not to proceed have a right to request a reconsideration of this decision. In the first instance they should ask to speak to the Permanence Team Manager or the Service Manager for Family Placement Services in order to explain why they consider that the application should proceed.
If the matter cannot be resolved through discussion the applicants can request that the Adoption and Permanence Panel gives advice about whether or not the application should proceed. The applicants will be able to submit information and to attend the 'advice panel' but will need to be aware that the social workers will also be submitting their reasons for not proceeding with the application. The recommendation of the panel will be confirmed by the Agency Decision Maker and the applicants will be informed of the outcome in writing.
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