9 months and still waiting since matched

[MellowYellow0]

Hi All,
We were matched 9 months ago and still haven’t met our potential adopted children. Has anyone else experienced such a delay and a protracted process?
It would be great to hear about your matching experiences and to find out if our situation is unique or a common occurrence across the UK.
Thanks in advance!

Crikey that is a long time? What is the reason for the delay?
Mine was delayed by nearly 3 months after a return to court. 9 seems a heck of a long time.

Hi mellowyellow0,

We were told about our LO at the start of June, waited for a panel date to formalize the match in September and then waited another month for introductions mid October. We had court proceedings going on in that time so the LA had to wait for all that to happen too. We were warned that it was likely that court would not go ahead on the planned date for a variety of reasons, and in that case we would likely wait another couple of months to get another date. Thankfully that did not happen or we would probably still be waiting as our LA don't do introductions any time near Christmas.

I feel for you, it's frustrating when you just want to get them home and 9 months seems excessively long.

Thank you both. I certainly never thought it would take this long and we’re now at the point of looking into formally complaining. So many unnecessary delays and trying to gauge what others have experienced.

Hi
So sorry to hear this, it’s beyond painful waiting. I was linked in March, July panel set but didn’t go ahead, finally panel in Sept, intros in Oct.
Don’t be polite, keep on at everyone and lodge the complaint. 9 months is a very kind time to wait and I would definitely want answers

Is that 9 months since going to matching panel? Or 9 months since being linked?

After over 40 yr of experience in an ideal world wish things were less complicated. All children are different as are their needs , also parental positions, court and kinship's situation's.
Children also wait too be matched , many different reasons. One child had 7 matches all failed, some have medical needs, sever emotional and traumatic issues, which need stabilising , Spent New year and Christmas in Hospital NICU with child this is frequent occurrences., outcomes have always been very positive with children placed when more suitable