Passport bungle meant teen’s life was ‘put on hold’
CASE FEATURED AS PART OF DAMNING REPORT INTO CHILDREN LET DOWN BY COUNCIL
A TEENAGE care leaver was unable to get a job and had his life ‘put on hold’ after Manchester council failed to secure a passport for him.
The council’s errors feature in a damning Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report detailing how children had been ‘let down’ by those charged with looking after them.
Manchester council has since paid the 18-year-old, known as Marcus, £1,600 for ‘avoidable distress’ after he missed out on three job opportunities and feared for his residency status in the UK. But the issue remains unresolved seven years later, according to the watchdog.
Marcus was born abroad and entered the council’s care in 2013 when he was in his early teens, though issues soon arose when the council tried to obtain his birth certificate. Neither the embassy of his birth country, or the hospital where he was born, had a record of his birth. Marcus’s parents also made no effort to resolve the situation.
When he turned 16, Marcus was told that he did not have the necessary identity documents to obtain a passport, but the council tried unsuccessfully to get hold of them.
This meant that Marcus missed a wedding abroad with his foster family.
He left care at 18 but still had no passport or identity documents, leading the council to appoint a personal advisor who agreed to pay for an immigration solicitor and a weekly allowance.
The watchdog’s report, titled ‘Careless: Helping to improve council services to children in care’, said: “Marcus says his life was on hold and his pathway to independence curtailed.” Marcus lodged a complaint against the council in 2018 with the help of an advocate, and the town hall acknowledged it had got things wrong in planning his care Unsatisfied with the way the council dealt with his complaint, Marcus reached out to the ombudsman with the hope that his case would improve circumstances for other children in care. The watchdog upheld Marcus’ complaint in May this year and ordered Manchester council to pay £1,600 and to continue funding his immigration solicitor until he obtains a passport.
Marcus’ case was one of several to be republished as part of the report published, highlighting the experiences of children who have been let down by the care system.
A spokesperson for Manchester council said: “We very much regret any distress our past actions caused to Marcus. We’re in close contact with him and are actively supporting him in his chosen career path to help ensure he has a successful future.”