Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult social care because it is a late complaint and there is no good reason to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Ms B complains about the assessment of her needs, cut in personal budget, and delays with direct payments. Ms B says it makes her miserable and terrified.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms B made her complaints following a Council reassessment of her adult social care package in May 2023. Ms B complained to the Ombudsman over 12 months later. This is a late complaint. I can see no good reason to investigate now. There will have been another review of Ms B’s care package within the last 12 month. Ms B has made another complaint to the Council about her direct payments which the Council is currently considering.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms B’s complaint because it is a late complaint about events that happened over 12 months ago. I can see no good reason to investigate the late complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman