Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult social care and the charges applied by the Council. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to apply our discretion to investigate the issues raised now.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the care the Council provided to Mr A before he passed away. She says Mr A complained to the Council in 2023, but she does not consider the Council’s response resolved the complaint.
2. The Council’s response provided details for the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Mr X did not refer the matter to this office at that time.
3. Ms X says she would like the Council to reconsider the complaint.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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/care provider has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman