Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council's involvement in Mr X’s care. This is because the complaint is late and there is no good reason for us to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to provide appropriate support during his transition from Children's Services to Adult Social Care. He says the Council withdrew support while he still needed it and failed to understand the extent of his vulnerabilities and mental health difficulties. He says these failings led to financial difficulties, problems with daily living, and emotional distress. He seeks compensation and acknowledgement of the impact that the Council's actions have had on him.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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

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

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My assessment

6. In April 2024, Mr X complained about the Council’s previous involvement in his care package support, which ended in December 2023. The Council did not uphold the complaint and told Mr X he could contact the Ombudsman if he remained dissatisfied.
7. In December 2025. Mr X submitted a further complaint to the Council about the care and support he received during the same period. He provided additional details about the impact on him and said he felt pressured into withdrawing at the time.
8. The Council decided not to investigate this complaint on the basis that it was late and it related to the same care package, period of involvement, and underlying events that it had already considered in its 2024 response. This is a decision it was entitled to make.
9. We usually expect people to complain to us within 12 months of becoming aware of the matter they wish to complain about. We can decide to investigate a late complaint where there are good reasons to do so, However, I have seen no good reason why Mr X could not have complained sooner. He was aware of these issues since at least 2023 and signposted to us by the Council in May 2024. Despite this, he did not complain to us until January 2026.
10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason for us to investigate it now.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason for us to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman