Caerphilly County Borough Council must apologise to a couple after they were denied the chance to say goodbye to a child they had been fostering for three years.
A report by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, following a complaint from the unnamed couple, found the sudden move of the child was down to financial pressure.
The child was in the couple’s care between June 2007 and September 2010 but it was decided he should move because his care needs were not being met.
It was originally decided to introduce the boy to his new foster parents gradually after a meeting between all parties.
Two days after this decision, according to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, the council contacted the National Fostering Agency (NFA) and informed the organisation it was unable to fund two placements at the same time.
The NFA questioned this and told Caerphilly Council that the formal 28 days notice had not been served. The following day, the NFA was told the child would be picked up from school that day and spend the weekend with his new foster parents.
Later that day, the original foster couple were told the child would not be returning to their care.
The Ombudsman partly upheld the couple’s complaint and found the council failed to ensure the boy’s move to his new foster parent was carried out in a “planned and proper way”.
He said: “Finances should not take precedence over proper transitional planning.” His report will now be passed to the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales.
The Ombudsman also recommended the council apologises for not giving the foster carers a chance to say a proper goodbye to the child and for not providing them with an “adequate and accurate” explanation for removing him from their care.
The couple had also complained the council had failed to address the child’s behavioural problems and did not provide him with enough support.
The Ombudsman however said there was no evidence to suggest this was the reason for moving the boy to new foster parents.
A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The council accepts the findings of the report and will implement the recommendations contained within it.”
"The following day, the NFA was told the child would be picked up from school that day and spend the weekend with his new foster parents"
That is unbelievable and whoever is responsible should be sacked.