The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X complaint about a decision to allow an adoption because the Court made the decision.
The complaint
Mr X says the Council’s should have allowed him to appeal a Court decision that his child should be adopted.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X has provided a Court of Appeal decision from April 2024. The Court of Appeal refused Mr X permission to appeal an earlier Court decision allowing his child’s adoption.
We cannot investigate the Council’s role in this, including any information it gave the Court or its views.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot investigate issues which a Court decided.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman