Decision not to take up an application or not to proceed with an enquiry or assessment
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 family placement team manager or the service manager 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 or fostering 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.