Hillingdon Council pays £500 after two-year foster mum rejection

Hillingdon Council rejected a prospective foster mother's application after a process lasting over two years, a decision that has now been found to be flawed by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The council has since accepted the Ombudsman's findings and made a £500 payment to the applicant.

Delays and communication failures

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman identified multiple instances of fault by Hillingdon Council. These included poor communication, long-term delays attributed to internal restructuring, contradictory explanations during the complaints process, and a failure to direct the applicant to independent oversight. The Ombudsman concluded that the council failed to identify and communicate property suitability issues from the outset.

The applicant, referred to as Miss X, had her home visited by a council officer in May 2023. An officer noted her two-bedroom property had been converted into four rooms to accommodate fostering. Two months later, the council invited her to apply and progressed her application to Stage 2. However, between September 2023 and February 2025, minimal progress was made. A medical assessment, completed in March 2025, was found to be over a year old by the time the application was reviewed by a panel, due to the council's delays.

Property suitability concerns

The council's final rejection in March 2025 cited concerns about limited communal areas due to the property's amended layout, the presence of mould, and the condition of the garden. Miss X stated that her housing officer had previously visited and confirmed the property's suitability, and that these specific concerns had not been raised earlier in the process. The Ombudsman noted that the council was aware of the property's layout and available space from the initial visit in June 2023.

The Ombudsman stated that had the council been transparent from the start, Miss X could have explored alternative options, such as contacting an independent fostering agency. The council's actions raised her expectations and delayed her approach to other agencies, causing her distress, frustration, and uncertainty over an extended period. The Ombudsman ruled that the delay in presenting the assessment to the panel and the failure to identify and communicate property suitability issues were faults.

Council response

Hillingdon Council stated: "We accept the decision of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and have met all the agreed actions in its report. We have apologised to the complainant and reviewed our internal processes to ensure we best serve residents and meet their needs." The council made a £500 payment to acknowledge the distress and wasted time experienced by the applicant.

What happens next

Hillingdon Council has accepted the Ombudsman's decision and has stated it has reviewed its internal processes. The £500 payment has been made to the applicant.