bad experience with 'outstanding' LA

[cheeseandchive]

Just posting as I'm not sure how to process a recent experience we had and would appreciate advice.

One of the LAs near us got Outstanding in their OFSTED, we knew people who had adopted through them and were really excited about proceeding. Contact with them was difficult from the beginning, I called about 6-8 times in one week and the phone wasn't answered once. I was a bit bothered about this but finally managed to make contact via email. They sent us over the dates, times and locations of the information meeting, and as requested we replied confirming the date and location of the meeting we would be attending. However, we turned up at the venue only to find no-one had any knowledge of the meeting happening - we had either been given wrong information (which was not corrected when we confirmed it back to them) or they had changed the location/time of the meeting and not told us.

Either way, I'm pretty certain that we don't want to proceed with this LA. However, we do want to feed back our experiences to them - even though we've been set on adoption for so long, it really feels like such a knockback to call repeatedly without any answer, and then to turn up to a meeting that wasn't happening. It left us feeling so angry and frustrated, and I'd hate for other people to go through that, and I'd really like that LA to get their act together!

Does anyone have any ideas about how to proceed, or is it nothing to bother about and we're just wasting our time?

Yes, what Were said

And I think Ofsted for LAs is like schools - a good starting point but take their ratings with a pinch of salt

Frustrating, yes....

Complaint, no....

You will need to learn to nod and smile a lot in this process, and beyond.... Start now

Suck it up and move on

I do agree with the others but I think it's disgraceful that adoption services in LA's are so poorly run and managed.
It's true you will have bigger lip biting later down the line but just wanted to say that it's wrong and unacceptable that we have to be nice to unhelpful LA's employees because we want to be mummies and they control our destiny grrrrr!

I wouldn't waste your energy complaining but vote with your feet.

Our La is rated outstanding however our initial phonecall and subsequent visit was anything but. We sent a polite email sayings thanks but no thanks and went forward with another nearby la rated good and never looked back.

Interestingly at our initial meeting they told us they would hold back our registration with them until they had a training group place available so they could ensure we went through the process in the required 6 months. So their rating was based in manipulated stats!

Agree with WereJamming and others. Polite email so they are aware of the problem and start looking elsewhere. Good luck.

Waiting2 is right - I think a lot of agencies are doing that so it's worth checking out how they are doing the 2 stages and whether they have a rolling programme - no one should have to wait anymore.

Thanks everyone - you kept me from hurling myself past the point of no return! Think we are going to just enquire with other LAs, I spoke to someone this afternoon who was really lovely and efficient. Have emailed the other LA to notify them of the problem, will probably email again tomorrow to let them know we are enquiring elsewhere (the LAs are linked and new LA would rather we let them know, so they don't get accused of poaching!).

Thanks all for your input!