Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision it will not repay care costs paid by Ms X in 2022. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

The complaint

1. Ms X says she paid for her now late mother’s respite care for two weeks before the Council commissioned care for her. She says she was told in 2022 that this payment would be reimbursed, but this has not happened as the Council has told her the NHS is responsible for that care.
2. Ms X says the Council has caused significant emotional and financial difficulty. She is seeking an agreement about who is responsible for the reimbursement and for the money to be returned to her.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman