Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of a mental health crisis team. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to investigate.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the actions of officers who visited her home after a safeguarding concern was raised. Ms X says she has suffered emotional, financial and reputational damage.

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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. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. The key events concerning the Council occurred in March 2024. Ms X raised her complaint to the Ombudsman 22 months later.
5. We will not investigate as Ms X’s complaint is caught by the time bar on our powers. I do not see good reasons to investigate. I appreciate Ms X says she has been suffering distress however this is not sufficient on its own to justify the delay. I note she was aware at the time, of the issues she is raising now, and she appears to have pursued related matters contemporaneously.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman